22- Oct-2021-Today we unveil our first ever 100% vegan football boot – Paul Pogba x adidas by Stella McCartney PREDATOR FREAK. The limited-edition unisex boot is the latest version of the iconic PREDATOR, blending Stella McCartney’s unique design, innovation and enduring values with the performance style and performance demands of world champion and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba. Join us as these two visionaries work together to unlock the potential of design to push boundaries and create with the planet at the center.
The origin of the collaboration can be traced back to May 2020, a conversation between Paul Pogba and Stella McCartney as part of adidas’ The Huddle content series. Their gathering during lockdown not only showcased their shared passion for fashion, sport and brand building, but also sowed the seeds for this groundbreaking football fashion collaboration.
Paul Pogba x adidas by Stella McCartney PREDATOR FREAK features the latest performance innovations in the PREDATOR collection, rigorously analyzing materials and components to ensure they meet vegan and elite performance standards.
Paul Pogba played an integral role in the development of PREDATOR FREAK, this iteration is an amazing combination of football game and creative expression. The unique silhouette and fresh white PRIMEKNIT upper features the signature leopard and Earth Protector graphics. The adidas DEMONSKIN rubber studs are calibrated by a computer algorithm for improved ball control and avoidance, which can be seen on the high-visibility orange boot. 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 first born. 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+ – retails for €280 – features a laceless construction and a comfortable sock-like fit, while the lace-up P1 model – retails for €250 – is designed with a lower collar and a sock-like feel.
A limited number of boots will be available exclusively through the adidas app and www.adidas.com/football starting October 22, and at select retailers starting November 1.
Take a trip back and revisit the conversation that sparked the idea for our first vegan football boot below: