Sports group adidas has unveiled a long-term collaboration with Belgian streetwear label Arte Antwerp, focused on reimagining sportswear through the influence of African diaspora culture. The partnership launches with the introduction of the Lightblaze POD, a new footwear silhouette that blends Arte’s minimalism and elevated design with adidas’ technical performance credentials.
Arte Antwerp founder and creative director Bertony Da Silva, who has Angolan roots and a European upbringing, said the collaboration aims not only to craft well-designed, premium pieces but also to “speak to the untold stories of European sports culture and the vital role of the African diaspora that has shaped it.”
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The debut Lightblaze POD was initially released in a navy monochrome colorway for family and friends via a pop-up in Paris, and is now being made more widely available in an all-white version through the adidas CONFIRMED app. It features adidas’ Adizero LIGHTSTRIKE foam technology, Arte’s signature metal branding, and design touches that merge technical, formal and athletic elements. Pricing is around US$200 / €200.
Former Belgian footballer Mousa Dembélé fronts the campaign, and future drops are expected to include an apparel collection and a Z.N.E. tracksuit, all celebrating the synergy between African heritage and European identity.
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By aligning with an emerging voice like Arte Antwerp, adidas is positioning this collaboration not just as a product line but as a cultural statement emphasizing representation, legacy, and storytelling—all elements likely to resonate with younger consumers globally.
