Denim Tears and adidas release first collab on 7 November

Denim Tears and adidas Originals release their first collaboration on Saturday, 7 November, with the Superstar 82 priced at $180 and the Stan Smith 80 at $160. It is the first release in a multi-year partnership.

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Both Complex and Sneaker Bar Detroit report that the pairs will be sold only at African Diaspora Goods, the Denim Tears flagship at 176 Spring Street in New York City.

The design

Founder Tremaine Emory builds both shoes around a plaid pattern drawn from plastic carrier bags. Complex, citing adidas, says the bags are common on New York's Canal Street and reached America by way of Asia and then Africa. Sneaker Bar Detroit reports the plaid in red, black, blue and cream cotton canvas, and ties it to the "Ghana Must Go" bag. It says Emory has used the same pattern on Denim Tears shopping bags for two years.

The Superstar 82 has serrated Three Stripes, deep blue accents and an embroidered canvas heel tab. The Stan Smith 80 has perforated stripes that show more of the plaid, and a green suede heel tab. Sneaker Bar Detroit also notes a Sankofa symbol on the tongues and heels. Sankofa comes from the Akan people of Ghana and is commonly translated as "go back and get it."

Emory told Complex he wants these symbols to be seen as American.

Sources: Complex · Sneaker Bar Detroit