Avant-garde and futuristic designs have become crucial to adidas’ performance basketball lineup, specifically with the brand’s signature athletes like James Harden. Debuting last month, the adidas Harden Vol. 8 has quickly gained traction for its innovative design and performance capabilities. Now, following up on pairs like the Luxury Green, Sculpted, and Royal Blue, Harden’s latest signature sneaker with adidas pays homage to Chinese culture, specifically the Dragon Boat Festival. This holiday celebrates the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan and features a day filled with boat races.
Similar to the Harden Vol. 7 Year of the Dragon, this Dragon Boat Festival-themed edition of the Harden Vol. 8 showcases meticulous attention to detail and cultural homage through its design elements. The sneaker features an internal bootie construction for snug comfort, but the external design choices set this pair apart. Enhanced with a linear pattern, the grey foam overlay envelops the midfoot, providing stability and visual charm. The traditional weave pattern on the midfoot panel nods to Chinese textiles, adding depth and cultural significance to the design. Furthermore, the white lacing system is complemented by a red nylon pull-tab, adorned with a tassel that features an ancient Chinese coin and pearl – elements deeply rooted in Chinese heritage.
The shoe's heel continues the theme with jade and white "pearls" embedded into the heel tab, enhancing the sneaker's luxurious feel. The heel counter shines in a gold finish, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Underfoot, the shoe has a jade, gold, and semi-translucent clear rubber outsole, incorporating adidas' full-length Jet Boost cushioning system for unparalleled comfort and performance.
The adidas Harden Vol. 8 Dragon Boat Festival will release May 30, 2024, through adidas online and in-store exclusively in China. Available in men's sizing, the retail price is set at ¥1399 (approx $190 USD). Keep it locked to the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the potential release of this pair and the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
adidas Harden Vol. 8 Dragon Boat Festival
Images via adidas
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