Adidas Originals has partnered with Austin-based sneaker boutique Kicking It to create a colorful sneaker launching Saturday which pays homage to the musical legacy and blues heritage of Austin. Called the “Live Music” Gazelle, the sneaker’s moniker honors Austin’s reputation as the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
Adidas x Kicking It “Live Music” Gazelle.
The design references the rich blues culture of Austin, with a suede upper drenched in five hues of blue. The sneaker’s red tongue and yellow Three Stripes round out the color scheme, together reflecting the iconic entrance of Antone’s nightclub, an establishment where Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ray Charles and more icons garnered experience. A final detail is a 512 lace charm which directly references Kicking It’s native city.
To assist the next generation of live musicians, a part of “Live Music” Gazelle sales will go toward scholarships for East Texas University students, serving the jazz band and future music programming.
“This project brings our love for sneakers, music and community full circle,” said Naja Dorsey, creative director of Kicking It, in a statement. “Austin has always been about live music and culture, and the ‘Live Music’ Gazelle celebrates both while giving back to the city that shaped us.”
In honor of the release, the collaborators will host a dual celebration. There will be an in-store gathering on launch day featuring hat customizations, grill and tooth gem molding, and in-person first viewings of the “Live Music” Gazelle. Then at night, Antone’s will welcome guests to a free community concert headlined by up-and-coming hip-hop artist J. Soulja and blues band The Keezy Experience.
Adidas x Kicking It “Live Music” Gazelle.
The Adidas x Kicking It “Live Music” Gazelle will be marked at a price of $120 and will be offered in limited quantities starting Saturday, available exclusively at Kicking It’s Austin store and online at kickingit.com.
The Gazelle has on several occasions served as a canvas for reinvention and collaboration. Bad Bunny and Adidas Originals, for example, worked together on the Gazelle City Series which released in July in coincidence with the start of the musician’s Puerto Rico residency. Adidas also updated the Gazelle with a slim sole, a remodel which launched in June.