In collaboration with Marvel Studios, this pack of cleats celebrated the film release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The concept for these cleats, alongside a range of adidas performance products, asked the question “what if Wakanda had a national team?” This pack featured a bespoke Wakandan flag meshed with a cohesive graphic and color toolkit across over a dozen SKUs.

As an extension to the concept, adidas collaborated with Lexus to make a 1:1 Lexus LC 500 Convertible. The vehicle wrap featured design elements from the inline adidas collection and was created for a photoshoot and pregame stunt with JuJu Smith-Schuster on Monday Night Football

Production Time: 3 months

Design: Charlie Kirihara

Project Management: Charlie Kirihara, Steffi Sage

Comms: Drew Gilges

Lexus: Sabina Charfauros, Prue Hyman, Brenda Cecena, Steven Lee, Gordon Ting

Photos: adidas, Marvel, Lexus

Strategy game cleats for Arizona State University in the 2021 season.

Production Time: 9 months

Color + Materials/Graphics: Charlie Kirihara
Concept/Product Management: Christian Montgomery
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings, Aric Armon
Product Development: Bobby Ho
Photos: Sun Devil Football

Strategy game cleats for Georgia Tech in the 2021 season.

Production Time: 9 months

Color + Materials/Graphics: Charlie Kirihara
Concept/Product Management: Christian Montgomery
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Development: Bobby Ho
Photos: Georgia Tech Football

1:1 cleats created as an on-field PE for Jalen Ramsey. The deadly blue ringed octopus inspired this colorway with a yellow base adorned with mesmerizing blue and black rings across the upper.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials/Graphics: Charlie Kirihara
Product Manager: Tyler Murphy
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Development: Brandon Miller, Eric Chapman
Photos: adidas, NFL, Rams

Inspired by the decorated tires and rims on professional and street racing cars. Neutral Grey Two upper meets a matte black plate with electric solar pops. Stripes and logos were velcro to allow the wearer to customize their look and change things up.

Production Time: 12 months

Concept: Chris Williams
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphics: Brett Superstar
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings, Aric Armon
Product Management: Chris Williams, Tyler Murphy
Product Development: Bobby Ho, Eric Chapman, Mike Carriero
Comms: Drew Gilges, Nathan Hawthorne
Photos: adidas, Steelers

1:1 colorway to tease and pre-heat the release of the Mahomes 1 Impact FLX. Inspired by the iconic Mint Julep drink at the Kentucky Derby featuring a mint upper and copper accents. This also provided an opportunity to try a different material execution with the suede upper.

Production Time: 9 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara, Todd Rolak
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Nick Staub
Product Management: Chris Williams
Product Development: Bobby Ho
Photos: adidas

1:1 colorway to tease and pre-heat the release of the Mahomes 1 Impact FLX. Inspired by the Hole Flag at Augusta National, these were worn by Patrick as he attended the Masters Tournament. The goal for these was too be as bright and visible as possible to catch attention.

Production Time: 9 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara, Todd Rolak
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Nick Staub
Product Management: Chris Williams
Product Development: Bobby Ho
Photos: adidas

Inspired by Christmas gift wrapping paper, this design features a foil metallic upper with screen printed graphics and bow laces.

Production Time: 9 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara, Tyler Murphy
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphic Design: Brett Superstar
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings, Aric Armon
Product Development: Bobby Ho
Photos: adidas

Designed in collaboration with Disney/Pixar to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Toy Story. The theme of this cleat was inspired by the Aliens and their obsession with “The Claw” in a claw machine, which is hidden on the backside of the tongue.

Production Time: 9 months

Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Product Management: Tyler Murphy
Product Development: Bobby Ho, Eric Chapman, Mike Carriero
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings, Aric Armon
Comms: Drew Gilges
Photos: adidas, Oscar Castillo, Steelers

1:1 cleats to celebrate JuJu Smith-Schuster’s 24th birthday. Inspired by a birthday cake.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Sprinkles Graphic: Brett Superstar
Candle Graphic: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Tyler Murphy
Product Development: Brandon Miller, Eric Chapman
Comms: Lydia Knoll
Photos: adidas

1:1 cleats created in collaboration with Marvel to coincide with the global release of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PS4/PS5 video game. This design was inspired by the existing adidas Superstar launching with the game release. Reflective electric uppers met the classic black and red of Miles’s Spider-Man suit.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara, Tyler Murphy
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphics: Brett Superstar, Charlie Kirihara
Product Management: Tyler Murphy
Product Development: Brandon Miller, Eric Chapman
Comms: Lydia Knoll, Drew Gilges
Photos: adidas

1:1 cleats created for JuJu Smith-Schuster inspired by his favorite anime. Canvas upper with sublimated explosion graphic and heel tassels.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Explosion Graphic: Mike Humphrey
Product Management: Tyler Murphy
Product Development: Brandon Miller, Eric Chapman
Comms: Lydia Knoll
Photos: adidas

1:1 cleats created for JuJu Smith-Schuster to celebrate his Polynesian roots. Graphic created by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara, Tyler Murphy
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Graphic: Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
Product Management: Tyler Murphy
Product Development: Brandon Miller, Eric Chapman
Photos: adidas, NFL

1:1 cleats created for JuJu Smith-Schuster inspired by favorite childhood cartoons. Canvas upper with sublimated plaid graphic.

Production Time: 2 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphics: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Tyler Murphy
Product Development: Eric Chapman
Photos: adidas, NFL

Strategy game cleats for the University of Miami to coordinate with the
”Miami Nights 2.0” uniform. Built from Parley Recycled Ocean Plastic and featured a Nutrition Facts inspired graphic on the heel with custom emojis and Canes phrases.

Production Time: 9 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Emoji Graphics: Brett Superstar
Nutrition Facts Label: Charlie Kirihara
Product Management: Christian Montgomery, Tyler Murphy, Chris Williams
Product Development: Bobby Ho, Eric Chapman
Photos: Miami

1:1 cleat for JuJu Smith-Schuster inspired by the galaxy vinyl wrap on his BMW i8. Features digitally printed galaxy upper with custom illustrations of astronaut versions of JuJu and his dog, Boujee. Accompanied by custom facemask.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Galaxy Graphic: Brett Superstar
Astronaut Illustrations: Charlie Kirihara
Product Management: Tyler Murphy
Product Development: Brandon Miller, Eric Chapman
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Photos: adidas, Steelers, NFL

1:1 cleats for JuJu Smith-Schuster inspired by Team Diverge, his eSports team. Digitally printed camo upper with Team Diverge signature X graphics.

Concept: Charlie Kirihara, Tyler Murphy
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Camo Graphic: James Lui
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Tyler Murphy
Product Development: Brandon Miller, Eric Chapman
Photos: adidas, NFL

Designed for players in the 2020 All-American Game. Inspired by the regality that these players embody, these were full of details. “Three Stripe Life” covers the uppers in a tonal execution with gold and silver accents. Faux fur is used on the heel pulls in addition to hologram capes on the back. The goal for this was to have commercial colorways that used white, black, gold, and silver.

Production Time: 9 months

Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphics: Brett Superstar
Footwear Design: Aric Armon, Tom Hartings, Kodi Whitfield
Product Management: Chris Williams, Christian Laursen
Product Development: Bobby Ho, Eric Chapman, Mike Carriero
Photos: adidas

1:1 cleats for JuJu Smith-Schuster inspired by christmas elves. Suede upper with embroidered gold trim and a fur collar.

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphics: Brett Superstar
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Tyler Murphy, Chris Williams
Product Development: Haibo Yao, Eric Chapman

Cleats and shoes created for JuJu Smith-Schuster and his family to celebrate White Sunday. Featuring the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame’s tapa graphic, which represents artwork and patterns across the Polynesian Diaspora.

Production Time: 2 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphic: Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Photos: NFL

Press:
TP+
Twitter

Created in collaboration with Marvel to celebrate the launch of the Spider-verse #1 comic starring Miles Morales. This 1:1 pair was created on the adidas AM4 SpeedFactory production platform utilizing a color and material toolbox. Accompanying gloves were hand-painted.

Production Time: 2 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color/Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphics: Charlie Kirihara, Aric Armon, Tom Hartings
Product Manager: Tyler Murphy
Photos: NFL

1:1 cleats for JuJu Smith-Schuster inspired by a family of heroes. Built using the adidas AM4 SpeedFactory production platform, using a toolbox of colors and materials. Sublimated rain graphic upper. Accompanied by custom umbrella.

Production Time: 2 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams, Tyler Murphy
Photos: NFL

1:1 cleats designed for JuJu Smith-Schuster inspired by childhood cartoons.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara
Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Graphics: Brett Superstar, Charlie Kirihara
Glove Customization: Charlie Kirihara
Product Management: Tyler Murphy
Photos: Steelers, NFL

Retail cleats designed to welcome the 2018 rookie class to adidas Football. Featuring a lenticular adidas logo upper with contrasting blue branding. Additional colorway created for Marietta High School.

Production Time: 12 months

Concept/Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao

Photos via @adidasfballus

Created with Airheads for Alvin Kamara. These cleats are inspired by the wrapper of each of the original flavors of Airheads Candy.

Production Time: 12 months

Concept/Color + Materials/Burst Graphic: Charlie Kirihara
Three Stripe Life Graphic: Brett Superstar
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: John Hoeck, Haibo Yao

Press:
Uniswag

Photos via @adidasfballus

Promo cleats for games around Christmas. Inspired by the traditional stockings hung from a fireplace mantle, these feature a suede upper, flocked plate and faux fur collar with custom embroidery per player.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, John Hoeck

Press:
USA Today
Sole Collector
Bleacher Report
WCRBtv
NBC Sports

For Week 13 of the 2017 season, the NFL allowed players to wear cleat designs of their choice, in support of positive messages and foundations.

Concept/Color/Materials/Graphics/Customizing: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: John Hoeck, Frances Huang

Spiked cleats inspired by high fashion dress shoes.

Production Time: 18 months

Concept/Spike Pattern/Color/Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings, Aric Armon
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, John Hoeck

Press:

Fansided

B/R Kicks

Darren Rovell Twitter

Uniswag

In honor of Dak Prescott’s late mother, Peggy. Inspired by pop art and old cartoon tv shows.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials/Graphics: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Frances Huang, Eric Sterner

Press:

Bleacher Report
Dallas News
Yardbarker
Class Act Sports
The Sports Daily

Custom cleats inspired by Lil' Wayne's 2007 mixtape, Da Drought 3. Signed by Lil' Wayne for Von Miller.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept: Charlie Kirihara, Chris Williams
Color + Materials/Graphics: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Frances Huang, Haibo Yao

Press:

Lil' Wayne Twitter
Lil' Wayne Instagram
The Score
247 Sports
Sole Collector Instagram
B/R Kicks Twitter
Uniswag Twitter

Promo cleats for Von Miller in honor of his mom, Gloria. Inspired by the bandana’s that Gloria frequently wears, these cleats feature a canvas upper with a sublimated paisley graphic.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphics: Vincent Suchanek
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, Frances Huang

Cleats for NFL athletes to wear during Thanksgiving weekend. Design features Thanksgiving themed emoji.

Production Time: 9 months

Concept/Color + Materials/Graphics: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, Frances Huang

Press:
Darren Rovell
USA Today

Inspired by DeAndre Hopkins' love for denim. Canvas upper.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials/Graphics: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, John Hoeck

Press:

B/R Kicks Twitter

Inspired by the Dark Knight himself, Batman. The cleats feature a reflective graphic of Washington DC displaying the famous batcall, a signal for the city's hero.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials/Graphics: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, John Hoeck

Photos via @adidasfballus

Inspired by Von's appearance in a "Clueless Gamer" skit on Conan.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao

Press:

SportsCenter
Sole Collector
Nice Kicks
Kicks on Fire
CBS Sports
Bleacher Report
Sporting News
Yard Barker
The Score
12UP
247 Sports
NFL
The Sports Daily
Uproxx
CBS Denver

Photos via @adidasfballus, Twitter

Inspired by Von's college major in poultry science and his own organic chicken farm. The upper features a premium skived leather and feather tongue tops. Delivered in custom chicken wire packaging.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials/Customizing/Packaging: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, Frances Huang

Press:
SportsCenter
ESPN
Sole Collector
Nice Kicks
Kicks on Fire
For The Win – USA Today
CBS Sports
Fox Sports
Sporting News
Yahoo Sports
247 Sports
Bleacher Report
SB Nation
The Score
Saturday Down South
SEC Country

Photos via @adidasfballus, Twitter

Inspired by Von Miller's love of luxury sneakers and all things freaky.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials/Spike Placement/Glove Customizing/Packaging: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, Frances Huang

Press:
Hypebeast
Washington Post
Sole Collector
Nice Kicks
Kicks on Fire
Footwear News
SportsCenter
Darren Rovell
Fox Sports
Bleacher Report
SB Nation
247 Sports
Total Pro Sports
12UP
theScore
Kicks Air
NFL

Photos via @adidasfballus, Twitter

Inspired by the orange Bush Viper of Central and West Africa. The Bush Viper ambushes its prey by hanging down from trees and bushes, using its poisonous venom to subdue other animals. This features an all-over orange and gold design with a rubberized snakeskin upper and orange electroplated plates. The aglets on the laces are also green as a nod to the green eyes of the snake.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphics: Brett Superstar
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, Frances Huang

Press:
Sole Collector
Kicks on Fire

Photos via @adidasfballus, Twitter, Google

Custom cleats inspired by the Texas Indigo snake. The Indigo is a non-poisonous snake that is known to battle and consume rattlesnakes. This fearless approach to hunting is replicated by Von Miller hunting down quarterbacks. These cleats feature blue rubberized snakeskin uppers with copper electroplated plates, inspired by the coloring of the Texas Indigo.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials: Charlie Kirihara
Graphics: Brett Superstar
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, Frances Huang

After winning Super Bowl 50 and receiving the Super Bowl MVP Award, Von Miller purchased himself a ridiculous diamond-encrusted ring. On the face of the ring emblazons "MBG," which stands for "Money Bag Gang," a nod to Von's group of close friends. These cleats feature a glittering diamond upper with rose gold plates and solar green branding: all inspired by elements of the ring.

Production Time: 3 months

Concept/Color + Materials/Customizing/Packaging: Charlie Kirihara
Footwear Design: Tom Hartings
Product Management: Chris Williams
Footwear Development: Haibo Yao, Frances Huang

Press:
Bro Bible
Sole Collector
the Score
The Comeback
Denverite
Kicks on Fire
New Hip Hop Musik Shop

CBS Denver