Adidas Philippines Collaborates With Local Artist Yeo Kaa In New Rivalry 86 Low Colorway 'Strong Girl'

(Press Release)

The brand’s latest hyperlocal release brings new life to the iconic Rivalry 86 Low silhouette

Manila, Philippines — A silhouette born from basketball but made famous off-court, the adidas Rivalry 86 Low is set to make waves in its reintroduction to the Philippines through the launch of the new “Strong Girl” colorway in collaboration with local artist Yeo Kaa.

Yeo Kaa is best known for her paintings that depict her iconic candy-colored characters in states of reality; but before becoming the artist she is today, Yeo Kaa faced competition, criticism, and self-doubt: her own personal challenges, yet ultimately helped her come out stronger and allowed her to see the beauty in life. This experience is reflected in the “Strong Girl Needs Rest Too” art theme depicted on the shoe.

“‘Yung concept ng shoes is about strength. ‘Yung pinaka-pinaghuhugutan ko ngayon is yung feeling na akala ko hindi na matatapos yung ganong pakiramdam na masama at mabigat. But lilipas at lilipas rin pala siya at magiging okay rin ang lahat sa huli (The concept behind the shoes is strength. I drew inspiration from how I felt that hardships and heaviness would be endless, but I realized that, this too, will pass, and everything will be okay in the end),” shared Yeo Kaa.

The Rivalry 86 Low has a clean leather upper sporting the iconic 3-Stripes, but the “Strong Girl” colorway also features several unique design elements:

• The off-white footwear is contrasted by bright blue and solar green stripes, which Yeo Kaa associated with her new state of calmness and freshness.
• The graphic print of the word “Strong” in Yeo Kaa’s own typeface can be found in the midsole.
• Yeo Kaa’s signature character, as seen in most of her artworks, also makes several appearances on the shoe, the most noticeable of which is stitched to the heel. Staying true to the theme, the character has its arms flexed to depict personal strength.
• The character is also seen in the mudguard where three expressions of the character’s face are shown: surprise, happiness, and determination — emotions which reflect a journey to finding the motivation to keep fighting.
• Like the local artists before her, Yeo Kaa also took the opportunity to put her art in the shoe’s sockliners where her signature character makes its final appearance with an inscription that reads “Strong Girl Needs Rest Too.”
• Finally, Yeo Kaa leaves her mark with her name embossed on the shoe’s upper.

“Through this collaboration, we continue our commitment to support Filipino creators by giving them a platform to share their art, and the messages within it, to a larger audience. We couldn’t be happier to have Yeo Kaa as the first Filipina to design adidas footwear, and for that shoe to hold such a profound and important message of strength and rest,” shared adidas Philippines Brand Activation Manager Jen Dacasin.

This special edition of the historical shoe is the fifth Filipino-designed adidas footwear collaboration.

“Strong Girl” will retail for Php 6,800 and will be available in-store and online (adidas.com.ph and adidas App) exclusively to adiClub members starting October 19 as part of the brand’s adiClub Members Week celebration. To learn more about the launch and other releases for adiClub Members Week, visit adidas Philippines on Instagram and Facebook.