Bad Bunny and adidas Reveal Over 100 Unseen Samples at The Archive Exhibit in Puerto Rico

Over the weekend, adidas Originals made the trip down to Puerto Rico alongside one of the brand’s most prolific collaborators in the 2020s, Bad Bunny. While the weekend was full of events, including the first-ever Formula One car on Puerto Rican soil and the continuation of Bad Bunny’s PR residency, The Three Stripes debuted The Archive: Puerto Rico Para El Mundo. La Historia de Una Collab at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico.

The landmark exhibition, the first public showcase of the Bad Bunny Archive, offered an unprecedented look at the partnership’s creative evolution, displaying more than 150 products—including over 115 never-before-seen sneakers.

For the first time, fans could trace the story of adidas x Bad Bunny from its earliest sketches to its most iconic cultural moments. The archive featured unreleased footwear, early prototypes, and one-of-a-kind artifacts, including the exact sneakers worn by Bad Bunny in last year’s three-way collaboration with Lionel Messi, custom cowboy boots for the Response CL Paso Fino, and a slew of unreleased samples and prototypes.

The exhibition opened with a panel conversation featuring designer and adidas collaborator Willy Chavarria, adidas Originals creative leads Rafael Mayorga and Valentina Benitez Castellanos, and adidas historian Sandra Trapp. The group pulled back the curtain on the design ethos behind the brand’s most meaningful cultural projects, discussing how adidas’ “first or better” approach has shaped five years of innovative storytelling with Bad Bunny. Following the talk, Trapp led a white-glove tour of the archive, guiding guests through decades of adidas history reframed through the lens of Puerto Rican culture.

While the archive was the centerpiece of the weekend, adidas Originals filled the island with activations. Festivities kicked off with Puerto Rico’s first-ever Formula 1 demo run, where Esteban Gutiérrez of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team raced through the streets of San Juan in front of more than 12,000 spectators. Bad Bunny, who was named an honorary team member of the F1 team over the weekend, debuted his upcoming Adiracer GT project. Benito and adidas also gave us an early look at the forthcoming three-way project with Mercedes.

If you happen to be in Puerto Rico over the next week, The Archive: Puerto Rico Para El Mundo is open to the public through August 17. Check below for images from the events that transpired over the last weekend, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com