Over the years, adidas has partnered with a number of celebrities for some of the most sought-after collaborations. This includes partnerships with Kanye West for Yeezy, Ivy Park by Beyonce and Pharrell William’s Human collection. This time around, the adidas South Africa team has gone local, partnering with fashion designer, Rich Mnisi for the adidas x Rich Mnisi collection.
The adidas x Rich Mnisi debuts a line of South African contemporary fashion. These items include beautiful, bold pieces, celebrating Rich Mnisi’s Tsonga heritage. The pieces from the collection were designed for a range of sports, including running, cycling, swimming and training.
Although the pieces from the collection are the pinnacle of sportswear, they just as easily transition to streetwear. The adidas X Rich Mnisi collection seamlessly fuses style, colour and function. It mixes the signature prints from Mnisi’s vision to the iconic lines from the adidas archives.
“I am immensely proud to present this collection in collaboration with adidas, an iconic brand that I grew up seeing on People of Color that were rewriting the arts. It has been a pleasure to bring my designs to classic pieces. We have created a bright, unique collection that reflects my love for the idea of community and heritage, individuality, and self-expression. Our aim was to create pieces that supports life on and off the sports field. The spirit of this collection celebrates our homeland, so environment was an important aspect when looking at methods and materials used in the creation process. I am so pleased we’ve used adidas’ advanced technology and partly recycled materials.
I am truly excited for the world to see this collaboration come to life.”
There are three sneakers that form part of the drop. These are the Superstart, Ultraboost and Forum silhouettes. Alongside the footwear is a range of apparel, including tights, swimwear, scarves and more.
Each of the items from the adidas X Rich Mnisi collection fuse bright, bold animal prints, vibrant clashing colours, along striking abstract patterns. Each of these styles come together to tell the exciting story of his roots. The pieces were designed to be worn in standout fashion or be accessorised and layered to express your individual look.
Hero pieces from the adidas x Rich Mnisi include the following:
- Tights (R749): Having carved out his placed in the world of fashion, Rich Mnisi once again unearthed Africa’s hidden treasures. And, while doing so, also celebrates his heritage. The adidas tights keep that same intent alive. It features an all-over animal print, which portrays an idyllic world where people and wildlife merge almost seamlessly. It has a soft, stretchy cotton that keeps you comfortable all day long. In addition to that, the cotton products support more sustainable cotton farming.
- Swimsuit (R1,199): The adidas swimsuit allows you to embrace a global perspective. It has a colourful print inspired by Mnisi’s homeland. It’s a place where wildlife and city life meet. The swimsuit is crafted from chlorine-resistant fabric featuring ECONYL regenerated yarn.
- Headscarf (R849): The adidas headscarf brings to life in vivid colours. It has an Infinitex Fitness Eco fabric. This is a soft, lightweight and chlorine-resistant material, with built-in UV coverage. This allows the weareer to stay comfortable under the sun. Additionally, the scarf ties in the back for a secure, personalised fit.
- Ultraboost 22 (R3,599): The Ultraboost 22 was released in Decemeber and receives its first makeover. It is a true representation of style intersecting with performance. It features the classic BOOST midsole, while combining with striking prints to makes a statement with every stride.
The adidas X Rich Mnisi collection is set to drop on 25 February 2022. Pricing will range from R379 to R3,599 across the range of products.
It’ll be available online at adidas.co.za, as well as adidas Originals and Performance stores.
