African diaspora athletes will inspire new adidas partnership
02/10/2025
Adidas said it wanted the partnership to help it “ re-envision contemporary sportswear silhouettes through the lens of street culture”. It said it wanted influences from the African diaspora to be a particular focus.
It said this would draw on the experience of Arte Antwerp’s founder and creative director, Bertony Da Silva, whose Angolan roots and European upbringing can help “untold stories” from athletes of the diaspora shape sports culture.
“The collaboration aims to honour these cultural legacies,” adidas said.
The first product to emerge from the new partnership is a new footwear model, the Lightblaze POD.
A first Lightblaze release came from adidas earlier this year. It presented the shoe as a running-inspired lifestyle silhouette, designed to support all-day movement.
Arte Antwerp said it had contributed “touches of elegance and minimalism” to the new version.
Antwerp-born former Belgium international footballer Mousa Dembélé, who has Malian as well as Belgian roots, fronted the launch of the Lightblaze POD.
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