Andrew Rizzo Let’s take a moment to give adidas some props. While not necessarily a headlining part of its business, the Three Stripes has been celebrating independent retailers through sneakers, resulting in heartwarming collaborations that champion the backbone of our industry. Following a strong link-up with Detroit’s Puffer Reds in August, adidas is now landing in the Big Apple with a Gazelle Indoor co-created by family-owned Bronx chain City Jeans.
If you grew up in the Bronx in the ’90s, there’s a good chance City Jeans was where you did your back-to-school shopping. Established in 1993 by Hai Winrauke and his family, City Jeans has kept community at the heart of its business from the very beginning – hiring employees from local neighborhoods and partnering with schools on initiatives like carnivals and turkey drives. That goodwill has paid off, with City Jeans now operating eight locations in the Bronx and one in Queens.
For their debut sneaker collaboration, City Jeans approaches the Gazelle Indoor with a theme of “Diamond in the Rough.” The Bronx is known for its grit and challenges. But out of that adversity has come influential voices, trends, and culture. Stanley Kubrick, Calvin Klein, and Jennifer Lopez are just a few of the Bronx’s many cultural exports – proof of the borough’s unmatched diversity in talent.
The “Diamond in the Rough” theme comes to life on a navy Gazelle Indoor featuring ripstop tearaway uppers that reveal a layer of powder blue suede underneath. The denim jeans and New York Yankees connections are obvious, but the powder blue shade also nods to Bronx hip-hop fashion in the ’90s (think bootleg Louis Vuitton). The tearaway layer includes a heel tag that reads “start here,” paired with a permanent pull tab just above. Navy, white, and powder blue laces with silver tips are included, while the tongue branding carries a lenticular finish that shimmers like diamonds. As seen on the inner lining, the sneaker is limited to just 800 units – each with stitched numbering.
The City Jeans x adidas Gazelle Indoor “Diamond in the Rough” doesn’t yet have a firm release date, but we’ll update this article as soon as more info becomes available. The sneaker retails for $130 and will release exclusively through City Jeans in-store and online.
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