Adidas teams up with NFT Artist FEWOCiOUS for limited edition sneakers

Adidas has joined forces with digital artist FEWOCiOUS to blend physical sneakers and NFTs with the release of Adidas Originals Campus 00s.

The Adidas x FEWOCiOUS collaboration aims to explore the “art of play” and offers sneaker enthusiasts an opportunity to own a pair of custom-designed Adidas Originals Campus 00s through an NFT redemption pass.

Web3 artist FEWOCiOUS has made a name for himself since entering the NFT scene with over $50 million in lifetime sales and collaborations with esteemed entities such as Nike-owned RTFKT and prestigious auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

This latest partnership revolves around a limited edition NFT mint pass called “Trefoil Flower,” which comprises 4,500 unique editions. This pass will be exclusively available on the OpenSea marketplace starting June 22.

Holders of the mint pass will be able to redeem it for a pair of custom-designed sneakers by permanently destroying (burning) the NFT, scheduled to begin in August, with shipping expected the following month.

An NFC tag will be embedded in every pair, allowing for easy scanning and linking to a companion NFT. This integration of physical and digital elements adds an extra layer of authenticity and interactivity for collectors.

The presale release will be divided into tiers. Tier One grants early access and a discounted price to those who own at least one ALTS by Adidas NFT with DECOS ALT[er] Ego, ALTS by Adidas NFT with SOLES ALT[er] Ego or FEWOCiOUS x FewoWorld: Paint Drops NFT.

Tier Two provides presale access at the regular price to owners of at least one ALTS by Adidas NFT ALT[er] Egos and all FEWOCiOUS NFT Holders, while Tier Three is open to any holder of at least one NFT from Gmoney’s Admit One, Bored Ape Yacht Club, Doodles, Inhabants: Generative Identities or Farokh’s Rug Radio collections.

The mint price for Tier One will be 0.2 ETH, approximately equivalent to $350. Both Tier Two and Tier Three can be minted for 0.25 ETH, or around $430. The public sale of the mint passes will commence at 2 p.m. ET and will be priced at 0.25 ETH.

Adidas has been actively exploring the NFT space since its acquisition of a Bored Ape NFT in late 2021. The company’s “Into the Metaverse” collection, in collaboration with the Bored Ape Yacht Club and other notable influencers, has facilitated over $150 million in NFT trading volume.

Era of ‘phygital’

In a similar vein, fellow apparel brand Puma has also embraced the NFT trend, partnering with NBA star LaMelo Ball and the Gutter Cat Gang NFT project for a phygital sneaker initiative.

Puma’s GutterMelo MB.03 sneaker features a teal mesh base overlaid with red, blue and green abstract printed paneling, complemented by a black and white sole. The sneaker will be available as an NFT collectible on the OpenSea marketplace starting June 29, 2023.

The limited-edition sneaker will be sold for $175, where the NFT can be used to redeem the physical sneakers starting July 18 through August 20.

The NFT sneaker is customized with a colorful effect that looks like a heat map, along with a Gutter Cat Gang image and a “1-of-1” inscription on the tongue, with the heels of the shoe featuring the names of the collaborators on the heel.

The MB.03 “GutterMelo” combines Ball’s love for fashion and basketball. The sneaker’s design is inspired by the Gutter Cat Gang’s branding, which features a cartoon cat with a bandana over its face. The sneaker’s colorway is also a nod to LaMelo Ball’s Charlotte Hornets team colors.

The MB.03 sneaker marks the third iteration of Ball’s sneaker line in collaboration with Puma, with more editions expected to come later in the year.