Pharrell x Adidas HU Collection

Pharrell and adidas Originals will be rolling out 5 colorways of the Adidas NMD HU series on September 26th, 2016. The collection will also be accompanied by a handful of apparel pieces that include jackets, pull overs and a few other garments fitting for the autumn season. Below are a few details behind this release via Adidas.

This Autumn, Pharrell Williams and adidas debut Hu, a collection of apparel and shoes that explores humanity and celebrates cultural diversity around the world. Hu represents Pharrell’s vision of connecting people through love, passion, energy, and color.

‘Hu is short for human – human being, human race, humankind,’ said Pharrell. ‘But Hu, itself is also a reference to color. As human beings, we all have a color. We all look different, we all speak different languages, but we’re all connected.’

Building on the limited-edition NMD that launched in July, Pharrell and adidas return with a diverse range of full-color footwear and dynamic activewear. Celebrating a spirit of equality, acceptance, co-existence and understanding, the collection features flags, stripes, and translations of the phrase “Human Race” in English, French, and Japanese. Pharrell sums up the collection’s message simply:

‘I play for the human race.’

With the launch of Hu, Pharrell looks to shine a spotlight on communities around the world, sharing stories and traditions of humanity. In this first collection Native Americans from North Dakota invited Pharrell into their community to share their stories of compassion and culture, carrying on traditions of language, prayer, celebration and knowledge from one generation to the next.

‘I am so thankful to the people of MHA Nation who shared their journey and experiences with me. I want to use my platform for people to tell their stories and help empower people no matter where they’re from. By understanding humanity’s past, we will build a bridge to its future.’ Pharrell Williams

The 19-piece Hu collection features 14 items of apparel and five styles of footwear. Clothing offers contemporary men’s and women’s activewear that combine adidas’ latest innovations with Pharrell’s vision of connecting people. The collection follows a simple palette of red, white, blue, and gray.

Essential pieces include the full-zip jacket and half-zip anorak—both of which are composed of a fully reflective woven outerwear material and feature Velcro side fasteners and packable hoods. The iconic adidas Originals Firebird track jacket and pant get an update with reflective 3-stripes, embroidered Japanese characters, and heat-transferred, reflective slogans. The crew sweat and legging, meanwhile, offer engineered, form-fitting looks along with multicolored flag labels and reflective phrases.

Footwear follows the precedent set by the yellow NMD trainer debuted in July 2016, but now offers 5 new colorways: scarlet, black, sharp blue, green, and tangerine. The shoes feature adidas Primeknit™ uppers, energy-returning white adidas Boost™ midsoles, and a breakthrough lacing system in which laces are woven through the stabilizer of the shoe’s cage, offering both support and freedom. The shoe also boasts an internal toe cap for a unique shape and a new modernized curved collar. Each color is printed with its own split slogan, such as “Hu Race,” “Human Species,” or “Hue Man.” Instantly eye-catching with their bold visual language, these pieces form the foundation of the adidas Originals = PHARRELL WILLIAMS wardrobe for the coming season.

adidas Originals = PHARRELL WILLIAMS Hu launches globally on September 29, 2016.

Pharrell x Adidas HU Collection