The biggest tennis event of the year has inspired yet another sneaker collaboration, and this time Adidas has paired up with US Open tennis pro Novak Djokovic. This pair of new kicks are special for more than one reason. The shoes actually sport Djokovic's face on its tongues, reminiscent to Adidas' old practice that most notably featured Stan Smith's portrait.
This time the US Open Tennis Pro's mug is plastered on the 'Barricade' sneaker, a sportier shoe that looks less like a tennis classic than the Stan Smith Originals. The face-featuring design not only looks stylish, but also acts as wearable advertising for Djokovic's personal brand. This release begs the question if Adidas is planning to return to this type of collaboration. If so, perhaps consumers can look forward to seeing more athletes' and artists' faces looking up at them from their very own feet.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Celebrity Portrait Shoes
- Brands can consider creating footwear featuring the faces of celebrities and athletes for wearable advertising and unique styling.
- Collaborative Sneaker Collections
- Brands can collaborate with athletes, artists, and other celebrities to create exclusive and unique sneaker collections that capture consumer attention.
- Sport-inspired Sneaker Design
- Athletic brands can look to create sport-inspired sneaker designs that appeal to consumers looking for functional and stylish footwear options.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Athletic Footwear
- Athletic footwear brands can consider creating collaborative collections with athletes and unique sport-inspired designs to capture consumer interest in the crowded market.
- Celebrity Endorsements
- Celebrity endorsements can expand beyond traditional media to include wearable advertising, such as featuring the faces of celebrities on footwear and other accessories.
- Fashion and Entertainment
- Fashion and entertainment industries can collaborate to create unique and stylish sneaker collections that appeal to trend-driven consumers.
