Adidas and Refinery29 partner for collection of sneakers representing each of the states for a good cause
Refinery29, a digital media company created for young women, has partnered with adidas to create UltraBOOST X, a sneaker collection with 50 pairs that represent each of the states.
Adidas, Refinery29 partner for collection of 50 pairs of sneakers representing each the states for a good cause / Courtesy of adidas, Refinery29
Tasked with creating art on a pair of white adidas UltraBOOST X sneakers, the artists used materials that ranged from sand to acrylic paint to beads to faux flowers to create the individual pairs.
"It's not about competing with each other, but lifting each other up and celebrating the diversity of this country,” said fashion illustrator Meagan Morrison who designed sneakers inspired by Alabama, California, Connecticut, Missouri and Virginia, in a statement.
Each of the sneakers are being created by female artists, including Meagan Morrison, Maria “Too Fly” Castillo, Bree Poort, Lizzie Darden, Jenny Kiker, Sophia Chang, Mari Orr, Jen Mussari, Carrie Chan, Jordana Schrager and Refinery29 fashion editor Alyssa Coscarelli. The designers used inspiration from the states including culture, landscapes and landmarks to create the 50 individual designs.
"We can find beauty despite diversity and, more importantly, because of diversity, from shorelines to glaciers, from farmland to mountaintop to prairie. If everything was the same, nothing would be remarkable,” said chemist turned artist Mari Orr who designed sneakers inspired by Alaska, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska and South Dakota.
All of the proceeds will go to Women Win, who has impacted the lives of over 2.24 million young girls in over 100 countries, according to the organization. Each pair of sneakers were being bid at between $150 and $1,100 per pair.
“The custom sneakers designed for women by women celebrate the diversity and creativity of this country, while intersecting sport and art in a unique and shareable way,” said Hallie Johnston, SVP, client services and strategy, branded content, Refinery29, in a statement.