adidas x TAQWA Mary-Janes

adidas x TAQWA Mary-JanesSisterhood takes centre stage

adidas x TAQWA presents a new kind of ballet sneaker, redressing the trend in style cues taken from the streets of Paris.

By Heather Snowden

22 January 2025 · 2 min read

Taqwa Bint Ali isn’t here for collections that claim to speak for her; she’s done with brands whose collections tout narratives around culture and diversity that feel more like money grabs rather than truth. So, she’s going her own way. In partnership with adidas, the Parisian artistic director and consultant has blended her story with her unique interpretation of streetwear and style. The result is the adidas Originals x TAQWA collection.

“I wanted very strong storytelling for [these] shoes,” says Taqwa, “something very authentic, almost documentary-like, far from what we see today: content around diversity, sisterhood, and Gen Z that is often too ‘scripted’ and cliché. The ambition was to stay away from ‘oh, this is how they saw us,’ to rather embrace and celebrate ‘ohh, this is us!’”

Balletcore, refreshed

Feat. an iron metallic leather body, mesh panel heel wrap, dual branding, and velcro fastening and a specially branded adidas x TAQWA box.

Drawing from her background in Paris, Taqwa pulled design cues from the Parisian Ballet to deliver a sneaker style that feels like an entirely fresh take on the balletcore trend that dominated 2024 style.

“I was born and raised in Paris,” she says, “in the 19th arrondissement, and for me, this is Paris: classic art meeting new art, youth who dress like old people, kids who play football and skateboard in the courtyards of museums. I love how in my city there’s always art everywhere, and there’s always a circular, back-and-forth dynamic between the old and new generations, as well as trends.”

This back-and-forth dynamic she speaks of is clearly represented in her design. The shoe is almost a mash-up of multiple trends we’ve seen this year, fusing a retro streetwear sole with a sleek silhouette and bold silver colourway that feels distinctly Y2K.

“As a creative and human,” Taqwa adds, “I only do and create things with an intention. I believe any action without the proper intention is worthless and empty. Sometimes it is not about the product per se but how I create a whole universe around it. I think that everyone can sell something, however not everyone can create a story that inspires people to change [or] actualise themselves and the world around them.”