Footwear
Nov 01, 2021
by Sidney Pacampara
Stella McCartney and Paul Pogba Create adidas’ First Vegan Soccer Boot
by Sidney Pacampara
Nov 01, 2021

adidas, British designer Stella McCartney, and international soccer star Paul Pogba have come together to bring vegan design straight to the pitch. What started as a conversation between Pogba and McCartney in adidasThe Huddle content series in May 2020 has led to the brand’s first 100% vegan soccer cleat.

The Paul Pogba x adidas by Stella McCartney Predator Freak is a limited-edition, gender neutral boot and the latest iteration of the Three Stripes’ iconic Predator line. The distinctive silhouette has a soft yet snug, sock-like fit thanks to a white Primeknit upper and features Demonskin 2.0 rubber spikes, which the sportswear brand develops using a computer algorithm for optimum ball control and play. The boot also sports a leopard design and McCartney’s Earth Protector graphic. Her signature opalescent finish as well as an ombré rainbow mirror metallic plate and heel logo are details that are firsts for football boots. The Predator Freak boot features recycled materials as its alternative to animal-derived ingredients; however, the specific material breakdown has not been confirmed yet.

Two versions of the cleats are available under this collaboration: the laceless Predator Feak P+ model ($280 USD) and a laced P1 model ($250 USD), which is engineered with a lower collar.

“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,” the designer said in a press release when speaking partnering with the World Cup champion and Manchester United playmaker. “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.”

But fashion and style weren’t the only overlaps the two powerhouses shared. Great collaborations breed true innovation. When minds who always strive to push the boundary come together, something great, and even Earth-friendly, is bound to be the result. “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.”

It’s just the beginning for adidas by Stella McCartney in the soccer space as well as Pogba in fashion and design. The French footballer added, “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 all-new Paul Pogba x adidas by Stella McCartney Predator Freak is available now via the adidas app, online at adidas.com/soccer, and at select retailers.

In other news, adidas and ThredUp have partnered together for a “Choose To Give Back” donation program allowing you to trade performance apparel and footwear from any brand for adidas membership points and vouchers.