BAPE Slap STA Branding Onto adidas Superstar Double Colab
are back with another collaboration, this time with multiple layers of self-reference and sneaker history for the nerds out there. The Superstar was chosen as the base model for the first-ever colab between the Japanese streetwear megalith and German sportswear giant, and here are two editions that tap into each brand’s rich heritage.
Funnily enough, BAPE actually produce a Superstar ‘homage’ called the Skull Sta. It is more or less identical to the adidas original, save for a slightly different rubber toe cap and STA branding instead of stripes. On this official partnership, both the BAPE STA logo and adidas Three Stripes share the lateral and medial panels in asymmetric presentation.
One colourway simply re-ups the classic white and black Superstar, which also recalls earlier versions of the 50-year-old silhouette, as evidenced by the thin tongue and smooth shell toe. There’s plenty of co-branding to be seen: insoles, tongue labels, heel tabs, and even shoelace aglets.
Meanwhile, the other variant in this upcoming release sees multiple colours of BAPE’s idiosyncratic and eponymous camouflage patterns splashed across each of the Superstar’s panels. While white lateral branding adds some contrast to an already out-there colourway. Like an antithesis to the clean white version, black finishes the panels that haven’t been dipped in camo.
The BAPE x adidas Superstar will release on February 27 via BAPE Japan – but they could drop internationally at a later date.