Adidas reveals their first 100% vegan football boot – Paul Pogba x adidas by Stella McCartney PREDATOR FREAK.
The limited-edition, gender-neutral, boot is the latest iteration of the iconic PREDATOR, fusing the distinct design, innovation and sustainable values of Stella McCartney with the expressive style and elite performance requirements of World Cup winner and Manchester United playmaker, Paul Pogba.
Together with adidas, the three visionaries have collaborated to unlock the potential of design to push boundaries and create with the planet in mind.
The origin of the collaboration stems from a conversation between Paul Pogba and Stella McCartney as part of adidas’ The Huddle content series, back in May 2020.
Hosted during the lockdown, their Huddle not only revealed their mutual passion for fashion, sport and brand building but also served to sow the seeds for this pioneering football-fashion co-creation.
The inaugural Paul Pogba x adidas by Stella McCartney PREDATOR FREAK offers the latest performance innovations from the PREDATOR franchise with materials and components closely analysed to ensure they conform to both vegan and elite performance standards.
Paul Pogba played an integral role in developing the PREDATOR FREAK and this iteration is a stunning combination of football playmaking and creative expression.
The distinctive silhouette and fresh white PRIMEKNIT upper are adorned with iconic leopard and Earth Protector graphics.
adidas DEMONSKIN rubber spikes, calibrated by a computer algorithm to afford improved ball control and swerve, feature on the boot in signal orange.
Signature adidas Stella McCartney detailing includes an opalescent finish and an ombré rainbow mirror metallic plate and heel logo – the first time a football boot has carried this feature.
Stella McCartney: “Since the start of my collaboration with adidas, we’ve continued to push the boundaries in high-fashion and performance wear so it’s incredibly exciting to be expanding into the world of football with the superstar athlete Paul Pogba.
Last year during lockdown, adidas brought Paul and I together for The Huddle which is where this idea was firstborn.
Hearing how passionate he was about fashion and learning how much we had in common really sparked the inspiration for co-creating this iconic boot.
One comment that stuck with me was how fashion was part of his personality both on and off the pitch, so it was important for this to shine through in the design.
Creating with the planet in mind is core to the adidas by Stella McCartney partnership and as the first adidas vegan football boot, the Predator Freak also uses part recycled materials.
Working together on the design and bouncing ideas off each other was such a fun experience, and the boot perfectly fuses the world of fashion and football, showing how we can continue to create with the planet in mind.
This is just the beginning of adidas by Stella McCartney’s work in this space, and we can’t wait to share what else is to come!”
Paul Pogba: “I am a footballer first and foremost, but I have a huge interest in fashion and design and I’ve always wanted to explore this further.
This collaboration has been particularly special for me because I’ve been a fan of Stella McCartney’s work for a long time, so when we came together for The Huddle last year and had this idea, it felt like the perfect opportunity to create something.
It was in the middle of lockdown and I was missing playing football so much, so it was an incredible feeling to be able to focus on something that combines my love for the game with my passion for style.
The boots we created with adidas are bold and unique, and I can’t wait to wear them when I step onto the pitch.”
The limited-edition, dual-gender PREDATOR FREAK P+ – at €280 – comprises a laceless construction and a snug, sock-like fit, while a laced P1 model – at €250 – is engineered with a lower collar and similar sock-like feel.
Boots will be available www.adidas.com/football and selected retailers from 1st November.
Take a trip back and revisit the conversation that sparked the idea for our first vegan football boot below: