Filipino artist collaborates with Adidas for NBA star Donovan Mitchell’s latest signature shoe

June 3, 2022

Filipino muralist and illustrator Jappy Agoncillo collaborated with Adidas for a special edition release of NBA star Donovan Mitchell’s latest signature shoe.

Adidas released information on the new shoes, the D.O.N. Issue #3 “Origin Story,” on Friday.

The basketball shoes give a nod to both Agoncillo’s and Mitchell’s roots. It features a halftone pattern influenced by Agoncillo’s love for superhero comic books and Mitchell’s previous D.O.N. issues. A map of Mitchell’s hometown in Elmsford, New York, is on the right shoes’ outsoles and a map of Manila is on the left.

The sock liners of the signature shoe also pay homage to Mitchell’s team Utah Jazz while honoring jazz music icons like Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong. A wing tip icon on the heel nods to the NBA player’s college team Louisville Cardinals.

The tiger stripe designs on the shoe represent Agoncillo’s signature mark and Mitchell’s middle school team called the Greenwich Country Day School Tigers.

“The concept of the design is about honoring the past and looking towards the future,” Agoncillo said in a statement. “Taking inspiration from how D.O.N. was named after Donovan Mitchell’s ‘Determination Over Negativity’ mantra, the design pays homage not only to the history of wins and losses of Donovan, but also the endless possibilities that the future has in store with continuous hard work and determination.”

“We at Adidas Philippines know and value the importance of being true to one’s roots. Furthermore, the brand truly wants to stay consistent; to inspire and empower local talent,” JD Cortez, the Adidas Philippines Brand Communications and Sports Marketing Manager, said. “Like our past Filipino-inspired projects and through collaborations such as this, we are proud to give local artists like Jappy Agoncillo the platform to represent and illustrate the true essence of being Filipino beyond what the world already knows about us.”

The D.O.N. Issue #3 “Origin Story” will be released on June 10 on the sports apparel company’s website, where it will retail for PHP$5,800 (approximately $110).

Featured Image via @adidasph

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