Adidas Names Proudrace First Filipino Brand Collaborator
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Key Facts
- Proudrace becomes the first Filipino brand to collaborate with Adidas
- Capsule centres on a redesigned Jabbar Low plus two graphic tees
- Design draws on Choc Nut-style browns and vintage Philippine stamp art
- Project took about a year of research, development and sampling
- Collaboration spotlights Filipino design on Adidas’ global stage
Adidas has tapped Manila-based label Proudrace for a new capsule, marking the first time a Filipino brand has been invited into its global collaborator roster. After being asked by Adidas Philippines to pitch concepts to the global team, creative director Rik Rasos saw his proposal greenlit and developed over the course of a year, moving from sketches and references into a full collection built around heritage, memory and modern streetwear.
The hero piece is a fresh take on the classic Jabbar Low, a late-70s silhouette linked to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and early athlete-endorsed footwear. Proudrace turns the shoe into a love letter to home: a soft brown suede upper that recalls Filipino candy culture, layered with a faux vintage postage-stamp label inspired by early Philippine stamps from the colonial era. The treatment keeps the structure of the original while shifting the storytelling to Filipino history and everyday nostalgia.
Alongside the sneaker, two T-shirts extend the narrative into apparel: one channels the look of tourist stall souvenir tops, while another uses an “I Miss You” stamp graphic as a quiet signal to Filipinos living abroad. The collection connects Proudrace’s existing work around upcycling, hand-me-downs and secondhand finds with a mainstream sportswear platform, putting Filipino design next to past Adidas partners such as Gucci and Wales Bonner and underscoring how local perspectives are reshaping the three stripes for a global audience.
