adidas Originals launches the first NFT wearables collection

adidas Originals unveils a limited collection of blockchain-based virtual wearables, issued as non-fungible tokens (NFT) on adidas.com/metaverse. The launch represents the brand’s first NFT collection of wearables, which is a new, interoperable product category adidas calls “Virtual Gear,” and accelerates adidas Originals’ commitment to strengthening its community-based, member-first, open metaverse strategy.

Revealed following a teaser campaign with the adidas Discord community, and available in the wallets of existing Phase 2 Capsule NFT holders, the 16 parts collection is a creative and cultural milestone in the brand’s history – which ties together past and future, virtual and physical, community and creators, culture and identity.

Erika Wykes-Sneyd, VP of adidas /// studio (‘Three Stripes Studio’) said during the launch, “We are laying down a marker in this new era of originality — one that undoubtedly serves society, heroes purveyors and collectors of emerging style and culture, benefiting the value creators, and supporting the diversity of expression and utility that blurs virtual worlds hair allowed us all to explore.

Wykes-Sneyd continued, “I love the opportunity this collection represents for our most engaged community of holders. Each capsule holder has a choice at launch – burn and express their virtual identity with adidas’ first Virtual equipment collection, or list and let others join this community. With our community and creator ecosystem at its core, adidas will explore all viable tools, platforms and experiences within Web3 to unlock new opportunities for our wearables, focusing on tangible value and immutable benefit to community members. No matter what, no matter where – adidas is synonymous with boundary breakers. Now, whatever reality they choose to live in.”

Designed to be worn by virtual avatars, and accessible through a PFP dressing tool, every part of the latest NFT offering is interoperable with other identity-based projects and worlds. This means the adidas collection is able to react and adapt to the metaverse environments being built, so ‘Virtual Gear’ is ready for all the boundaries of Web3.

The collection itself looks forward to a future yet to be realized with a series of disruptive designs, including a “C2172” and “SPACE CRYSTAL”. Meanwhile, provocative homages to the limitless possibilities of metaverse worlds, such as “WALLRUNNER” and “PFD – Personal Flotation Device”, offer playful images of the brand’s creative potential. Subtle nods to iconic aspects of adidas Originals’ inimitable DNA are then realized through designs such as ‘NEOBONE’, which is inspired by the rubber sole pattern of the timeless Superstar silhouette.

As part of the continued collaboration with the brand’s earliest Web3 partners, the collection also includes three limited-edition wearables by creators – each representing the creative style of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), Gmoney and Punks Comics respectively.

Commenting on the collection, Nic Galway, Senior VP of Creative Direction for adidas Originals added, “As a brand, adidas has always been about exploring the edges of creativity and pushing the boundaries to find what’s outside. But Web3 offers our designers and collaborators a new outlet to imagine, and reimagine, how our brand can be represented in augmented and virtual worlds. Creatively speaking, we are extremely proud to say that this virtual collection represents more than just a historic first for adidas. It also represents an idea of ​​wearable clothing that can transcend time and space, a community that is vibrantly diverse, and a level of utility that can be explored and even discovered as worlds and avatars take new forms.”

The very limited wearables collection will arrive on November 16. Owners of the adidas Originals: Capsule NFT Collection, which launched in May 2022 as part of one of the largest NFT Airdrops in history, will be able to discover which of the 16 unique pieces they have been awarded when they choose to reveal and replace their Capsule NFT. This means they must agree to “burn” the Capsule NFT they currently hold, to randomly generate one of the 16 new digital portable NFTs.

For those who do not currently own an adidas Originals: Capsule NFT, the new Virtual equipment the collection will be available for purchase directly across the relevant NFT marketplaces from November 16 onwards. As an added benefit, community members who have a virtual wearable NFT and a compatible partner collection NFT (BAYC, MAYC, Inhabitants) will be able to use a PFP tool, coming soon, to “dress up” their NFT with adidas virtual wearables. .

Learn more at adidas.com/metaverse.