UnheardOf adidas Rivalry Low JS2972

Though storytelling is a part of every sneaker collaboration, it’s rare to see the level of outreach that UnheardOf just showed with their adidas Rivalry Low.

The brand’s founder, Phillip Lipschutz, centered his third adidas collaboration around his hometown of Cincinnati, reflecting the city’s Roebling Suspension Bridge with an all-over brick pattern on the low-cut kicks’ uppers. From there, the midsole reflects the Ohio River’s summer visage with vibrant mint green, while the bridge’s towers inspire the hits of aquatic teal that paint the eye-stays and Three Stripes branding.

With wry marketing that states, “Brooklyn, you’re welcome,” Lipschutz alludes to the fact that the Roebling Bridge was the reference point in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. While a fun bit of engineering trivia, it also reflects his and the city’s underdog stories. Very much to his credit, it’s not just a hooky storytelling twist with this collab; he and adidas came together to pledge a portion of the proceeds to the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, aiming “to provide essential mental health resources and support to the next generation pursuing their dreams.”

While UnheardOf confirms that the “special case” pairs were capped at 1000 pairs (already sold out on their site), stay tuned for info about a potential wide launch down the line. In the meantime, check out campaign shots ahead.

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.