American designer Rick Owens has announced the renewal of his partnership with athletic brand Adidas, reimagining running footwear and expanding it into a full sportswear collection. The designer shared this in an interview with Vogue, where he also discussed his views on fashion collaborations, workout habits, and his own design experiments. The new partnership continues a history that began back in 2013 and paused in 2017 — after years apart, both audiences had built up strong expectations for a joint release comeback.
Futuristic Soles and Rick Owens Aesthetics
The centerpiece of the collection is running footwear built upon Adidas's signature Springblade technology. The designer adapted it to his brand's recognizable aesthetic, resulting in sneakers with an unusual sole construction, chunky shapes, and a stark futuristic silhouette that, according to sources, resembles “footwear from the future.” Alongside footwear, the lineup includes sportswear, jackets, elongated hooded capes, tunics, and bodysuits — a complete set of elements to build out a full look.
From the Runway to Everyday Life
Some of the designs build upon ideas Owens presented in his Spring 2027 collection, including inflatable silhouettes whose volume is generated by built-in fans. According to the designer, he wanted to make the runway show spectacular without massive set decorations that would have to be torn down afterward, while also ensuring that experimental pieces wouldn't remain strictly runway items but could integrate into everyday wardrobes. This approach reflects his overarching principle, which he stated plainly: “Everything I do is completely selfish. It's always about me, my needs, and what I want to see in the world.”
The Pragmatism of a Traveler
Interestingly, Owens describes himself as someone who sometimes works out in hotel slippers while traveling just to save suitcase space on athletic shoes. That is precisely why this new Adidas collaboration gave him an opportunity to explore the functionality of running models and combine it with his own design vision, rather than simply reproducing runway shapes in a commercial format.
Partnership History and Release Details
The original Rick Owens and Adidas partnership ran from 2013 to 2017, producing several collections that fused athletic functionality with avant-garde forms. The current collaboration picks up this story after a lengthy hiatus. Prices for the new collection items will range from $590 to $850, with the official launch scheduled for November 17 on the Adidas and Rick Owens websites as well as select retail stores. Thus, by late November, audiences can prepare for a release set to be a major milestone at the intersection of streetwear and avant-garde design.
