Adidas and Thebe Magugu Team Up for Sportswear Collection Inspired by African Heritage
Words by The Folklore Team
Sportswear giant adidas has collaborated with South African designer Thebe Magugu for a capsule collection of vibrant sportswear that celebrates African heritage, inclusivity and community. Featuring high-performance pieces, the capsule collection has been designed for women of all shapes and sizes, and includes modesty swimwear, training and tennis gear.
The first of two scheduled drops, Adidas x Thebe Magugu is available to members of Adidas’ rewards program, AdiClub, from today but will be released worldwide for everyone else on August 15. In line with Adidas’s sustainability efforts and commitment to help end plastic waste, each piece in the collection has been made in part from recycled materials along with the brand’s signature performance technology.
With a sense of community and function baked into the design of the collection, the inclusive line offers swimsuits that are available in sizes XS to 4XL, a lightweight swim hijab made from chlorine-resistant fabric and gender-neutral pieces with UNITEFIT, Adidas’ fluid clothing and fit system.
Taking inspiration from Magugu’s mother, aunt and grandmother, the vibrant collection uses illustrations from artist Phathu Nembilwi that depict a joyful, dancing woman, which is the designer’s way of celebrating the women in his life. “I’m infinitely inspired by the energy of the women in my life and the heritage of my native land. Bringing together such personal stories through design and blending them with adidas’ iconic performance and lifestyle pieces has been an amazing process,” Magugu says. “The collection really celebrates all the positive influences around me, and a sense of community that is so important to me. I hope it inspires the same joyful feeling in those who wear it.”
This joyful feeling is reflected in each garment thanks to the use of an abstract selection of bright shades of orange and yellow, with pink accents on a lilac background. The collection spans across sports including running, swimming, training, tennis, football, and cycling alongside a set of casual lifestyle garments.
As well as the performance pieces, the collection includes iconic Adidas designs such as the Originals Crop T-shirt and Stan Smith sneakers, updated with touches of Thebe Magugu’s signature prints.
The second drop from the Adidas x Thebe Magugu collaboration is expected later this year in October, and is set to combine Adidas’ performance technology with yoga looks, joggers and statement tees.
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