adidas Originals partners with Wales Bonner to unveil a capsule collection that celebrates Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for Fall Winter 2025 season. The project expands on a relationship that began in the 1970s, when Abdul-Jabbar became one of the first athletes in basketball to sign with adidas for a signature shoe. Half a century later, the collaboration takes form in a collection that bridges Abdul-Jabbar’s athletic and cultural influence with Wales Bonner’s design approach.
The collection takes Abdul-Jabbar’s sky hook as its guiding motif. The move, recognized around the world, appears as a repeated logo detail across apparel and footwear. It serves as a graphic link between the different pieces and places Abdul-Jabbar’s on-court legacy at the center of the capsule.
The apparel range presents designs that reference different aspects of Abdul-Jabbar’s life. A track top features embroidered dragon artwork that recalls his acting career and pairs with matching premium track pants. A basketball tank top and shorts emphasize his time on the court. The line also includes a two-pack of socks designed in colors tied to Abdul-Jabbar’s two professional teams, offering a subtle reference to his playing history. Each garment draws from his story while remaining shaped by Wales Bonner’s aesthetic.
Footwear plays a major role within the release. Wales Bonner reintroduces the adidas Jabbar silhouette as the WB Jabbar Lo, a sneaker that adapts the 1970s design for today. The shoe features a suede upper, alternating colors on the Three Stripes, and gold foil artwork of the sky hook on the tongue. These details make the model a clear continuation of Abdul-Jabbar’s history with adidas while presenting the design through updated materials and finishes.
The campaign surrounding the collection reinforces these references. Photographer Oliver Hadlee Pearch captures model Jecardi Sykes in images that draw from classical portraiture. Each shot positions the model as a living echo of Abdul-Jabbar, with styling and direction reinforcing the collection’s themes. Alongside still photography, a short film combines archival footage with Abdul-Jabbar’s own words. The edit brings together campaign imagery, historic clips, and quotes, while jazz shapes the soundtrack. The music honors both Abdul-Jabbar’s personal admiration for the genre and its lasting cultural influence.
Together, these elements frame the capsule as both design project and cultural document. The line revisits Abdul-Jabbar’s influence on basketball while also acknowledging his roles as actor, writer, and activist.
The adidas Originals by Wales Bonner Jabbar collection will be available worldwide on September 8, 2025. It will be released on adidas.com, through the Confirmed app, and via select retailers.
