Pharrell Williams is surely the busiest man at Fashion Week. Since his appointment as artistic director of Men's collaborations at Louis Vuitton, the multi-talented figure opened Tuesday, January 21, the Paris Men's Fashion Week for Fall-Winter 2025-2026. After presenting his fifth collection "remembering the future", created in collaboration with his friend Nigo (artistic director of Kenzo), the Virginia native also took the opportunity to unveil his upcoming collaborations, notably with the three-stripe brand: adidas. First spotted during his public outings with his signature bootcut jeans, the adidas Jellyfish was finally revealed to the sneaker world. At first glance, it is impossible to ignore the similarities between this new collaborative project and other retro silhouettes from the adidas catalog, notably the Response CL and the Adistar Cushion 3.
While the overall shape and design language of the model are rooted in the German firm's archives, the Pharrell Williams touch is present through the materials used and the direct references to his story. Former adidas design director Zac Andrew also shared his thoughts: the project took on a new dimension after Pharrell's appointment at Louis Vuitton, emphasizing adidas's strength in technology rather than leather, which the French house dominates. As a result, the plastic overlays on the upper resemble an exoskeleton and draw inspiration from the original aesthetic of the Adistar line. As for the colorway, the pair features shades of orange, white, grey, and black, hinting at a summer release.
Comme des Garcons: the art of collaboration reinvented
You can always expect Rei Kawakubo's label to unveil a new collaboration on the runway. This year, it planned not one, but three partnerships with different collaborators. Headlining: Nike. After numerous successful partnerships, Comme des Garcons is set to bring its creative vision to the Nike Air Rejuven8, a particularly retro model designed in 2008 for athlete recovery during the Beijing Olympics. This fall, CDG is ready to offer an update to the silhouette with a pack of two monochrome pairs in removable mesh. The Nike Field General 82 is not to be outdone, as Comme des Garcons unveiled a new design that redefines the pair's aesthetic with a multitude of wavy and curved logos. This is not the first time CDG has reworked the model. Last year, the Japanese label revealed the first images of a similar pair with a translucent gum sole and a "Market Market" print distributed exclusively at the "CDG Black and Pink Market Market" pop-up in Harajuku. It remains to be seen whether the pair will see a worldwide release or remain an exclusive drop.
Photo credits: @commedesgarcons (Instagram)
On the running side, Comme des Garcons gave a first look at the upcoming silhouettes in collaboration with the Boston-based brand. After revisiting the 1906R model and the New Balance 860v2, it is now the New Balance 509's turn to don the CDG signature. First introduced in fall 2024, the pair, inspired by 2000s running silhouettes, is reimagined with two designs: one white and one grey. Each pair is constructed with a synthetic leather base while certain parts are removed from the original design. On the Japanese side, the Asics Gel-Kayano 14 will also join the lineup! One of the trendiest models from the Japanese brand gets an update with a mesh base and white leather overlays, moving away from the Y2K aesthetic often achieved through metallic silver treatments. While no specific date has been announced yet, the retail price should be around 300 euros.
When sneakers rhyme with experimentation
In the vast world of designers, where originality rules, some always know how to create an event. Such is the case for Salehe Bembury, who teased his first silhouette from his new partnership with Puma Hoops. As announced last summer, the most appreciated and sought-after creative of the moment is investing in the brand's basketball division and unveils one of the first glimpses of what the public can expect from this partnership. Like most of his other collaborations, this unprecedented project features his fingerprint motif, an essential detail of his artistic direction. Built from Puma's Deviate Nitro 3, the typical mold of the component has been reworked in true Salehe Bembury fashion: the mesh uppers follow suit, with the Formstripe on the lateral profile opting for a fragmented look. Co-branding lands on the medial heel, cementing the New York-born creation in Puma's long history. And while Bembury has not yet revealed release details, this pair could well make its debut before year's end.
On the Saucony side, Jae Tips still has a few surprises in store as the designer took advantage of the Paris catwalk to unveil his next interpretation of the Saucony Jazz 9. Although they only have a few shoes together, Jae Tips and Saucony stand as one of the strongest partnerships in the running world. And this relationship is far from over, as the American designer made quite the impression with this new design that blends orange, yellow, blue, and pink, accompanied by the message "I Love You But I'm Busy" embroidered on the heels. While no additional information has surfaced yet, the pair should drop sometime this year.
Some creations instantly captivate attention. This is precisely the case with Guillermo Andrade and his unprecedented reinterpretation of the Nike Air Foamposite One under the 424 label. Known for his avant-garde approach and his ability to elevate sportswear aesthetics, the designer tackles one of the Swoosh's most iconic models. However, unlike what one might expect from such a project, no official Nike mention appears on the pair. Andrade confirmed it himself: this Foamposite is not a collaboration, but a pure creative exercise. At first glance, the silhouette retains the Foamposite DNA with its rigid exoskeleton and glossy finish, but subtly moves away from its hardwood roots to blend into a more experimental register. The main transformation lies in the structure of the shoe itself: a raised collar, inspired by boots, modernizes the silhouette while a metallic zipper takes center stage at the back. While this version will never be available in stores for now, one question remains. Could Nike be won over by Andrade's vision and consider an official partnership with 424? While awaiting a potential realization, this Foamposite already marks a first step.
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