In a significant milestone for their enduring partnership, recording artist Bad Bunny and sportswear giant Adidas are launching a new footwear offering, the Adizero SL72 'Archive'. This release commemorates half a decade of creative collaboration, which has seen Bad Bunny ascend to global music superstardom, marked by chart-topping albums and a record-breaking residency in his native Puerto Rico.
The alliance between Bad Bunny and Adidas has been remarkably productive, yielding a diverse range of sneaker designs. Their journey began with three distinct color interpretations of the iconic Forum Low, showcasing shades of pink, blue, and brown. Subsequently, the collaboration expanded to include innovative designs like chunky Campus variations, special editions with football legend Lionel Messi, and unique hybrid silhouettes such as the Ballerina model, which has been instrumental in shaping the emerging trend of ballet-inspired sneakers.
The latest addition, the 'Archive' edition of the Adizero SL72, serves as a nostalgic nod to their early joint ventures. It draws inspiration from a concept similar to Nike's 'What The?' series, which blends multiple past colorways into a single, novel design. However, while Nike often aims for a deliberately contrasting aesthetic, Bad Bunny's approach with the 'Archive' feels more organically cohesive.
This new Adizero SL72 sneaker reimagines the classic 1970s SL72 runner, an ultralight design, by infusing it with the familiar palette of pink, blue, and brown. These are precisely the colors that defined Bad Bunny's initial trio of Adidas collaborations. While the color scheme is instantly recognizable, the 'Archive' introduces a fresh vibrancy. Unlike the softer tones of the original Forum designs, the Adizero SL72 boasts richer, more saturated versions of deep brown, vibrant pink, and royal blue accents.
Subtle variations in tone further enhance the sneaker's visual appeal, with details like a creamy tan heel tab and a delicate pink hint on the shoe's signature stripes. These bolder foundational colors create a striking contrast with the sneakers that first inspired them. The overall result is a visually appealing combination, often described as a 'Neapolitan delight,' celebrated for its impeccable color-blocking and considered by many to be the pinnacle of the collaboration between Adidas and Bad Bunny to date. This highly anticipated release is scheduled to drop on September 27th for $160, available through CONFIRMED and select retailers, and it is widely expected that the duo will continue to push creative boundaries in the years to come.
This retrospective collection not only celebrates the past achievements of the Bad Bunny x Adidas partnership but also signals a continued evolution in their design language, offering fans and sneaker enthusiasts a vibrant and harmonized blend of iconic colors within a contemporary silhouette.