Denim Tears, the label founded by designer Tremaine Emory, has unveiled its first joint collection with adidas Originals. The first products of the collaboration are reinterpreted versions of two of the brand’s best-known classics, the Superstar 82 and the Stan Smith 80. As reported by Modern Notoriety, Sneaker Bar Detroit and Sneaker News, the shoes go on sale on 7 November 2026 exclusively at African Diaspora Goods, Denim Tears’ flagship store in New York. The publications describe this first step as the start of a multi-year partnership between the two brands.
See adidas Originals' post on Instagram
A pattern born from a bag
The collection’s starting point is the checked plastic bag known in West Africa as the “Ghana Must Go”. The plaid pattern in red, black, blue and cream covers the cotton canvas uppers of both models from end to end. According to Modern Notoriety, these bags first appeared in Hong Kong in the 1970s, then travelled to Africa and from there reached the US with African and Chinese immigrants. Today they are still a common sight on New York’s Canal Street. Sneaker News writes that the collection also highlights the role of African and Chinese immigrants in the history of Canal Street. It is also noted that Emory has used the pattern on Denim Tears’ shopping bags for the past two years.
The promotional imagery follows the same story: the campaign was shot near a subway entrance on Canal Street, and a nearby building was wrapped entirely in the same plaid pattern.
See adidas Originals' post on Instagram
Two classics, two interpretations
On the Superstar 82, serrated-edge Three Stripes contrast with the pattern, while navy details and an embroidered canvas heel tab complete the model. On the Stan Smith 80, perforated stripes let more of the pattern show through, and the heel carries a dark green suede tab. Both models feature metal eyelets, rubber soles and gold-foil adidas Originals and Denim Tears logos. Publications list the price of the Superstar 82 at $180 and the Stan Smith 80 at $160.
See Denim Tears' post on Instagram
The collection’s new symbol is the Sankofa, which appears on the heel and tongue. One of the Adinkra symbols of the Akan people of Ghana, Sankofa roughly means “go back and get it” and expresses the idea of looking to the past to reclaim what was left behind. It is the first time the symbol has been used in Denim Tears’ design language.
What does Emory say?
In comments reported by Modern Notoriety, Emory said he wants these symbols to be seen as American: “I want these symbols to be seen as American, because they are.” The designer stressed that the people who carry the bag live in this country, are part of America, and that what they do here matters. Emory also said he was looking forward to Denim Tears adding its own contribution to this story.
Who is Denim Tears?
Emory founded Denim Tears in 2019. The label’s work addresses Black American history and the African diaspora; the cotton wreath motif is among its best-known graphics. According to Sneaker News, the brand’s work has reached the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and the SCAD Museum of Art. Denim Tears has previously collaborated with brands such as Levi’s, Stüssy, Our Legacy and Corteiz. On the footwear side, in 2020 it designed a Converse Chuck 70 inspired by Marcus Garvey and the Pan-African colours. Emory also served as Supreme’s first creative director for around a year and a half.
Sneaker News first reported the collaboration in September 2026, writing that at least two shoes were expected in November. The details of the models were confirmed in the first week of November with the official campaign imagery.
Why it matters
The Superstar and Stan Smith are among the best-known silhouettes in the adidas Originals catalogue. Opening up these two silhouettes to a designer label shows the importance adidas places on working with independent brands that tell cultural stories. In the case of Denim Tears, the shoe is presented not just as a fashion product but as the vehicle for a narrative about migration, labour and identity.
The collaboration also reflects a trend that is growing ever stronger in streetwear: consumers, especially younger generations, care about the story behind a product and the designer’s stance. Carrying the pattern of an ordinary immigrant’s bag onto some of the world’s best-known shoes is a striking example of how everyday objects can take on new meanings in the language of fashion. The news that the collaboration will span several years also suggests new products may follow in coming seasons, although details have not yet been announced.
Sources
- Modern Notoriety: Denim Tears x adidas Superstar and Stan Smith Release Date
- Sneaker Bar Detroit: Denim Tears x adidas Originals Pack Releases November 7th
- Sneaker News: Denim Tears Is Collaborating With adidas
Image: An adidas Superstar shoe in its box (representative image) — halfrain, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
The Instagram posts in this article are official posts from the respective accounts and are published using Instagram’s embed tool; all image rights belong to their owners.