Chicano fashion designer Willy Chavarria first debuted his collaboration with Adidas on the runways of Paris Fashion Week, and the release of the Willy Chavarria x Adidas Jabbar was big news earlier this spring and summer, as the colorways from the catwalk slowly landed at retailers. Now, Willy is back with a fresh colorway of the classic silhouette, an off-white/gold Jabbar low.
Staying in the mold of Chavarria's clean design style, the off-white Jabbar low is crisp as they come with a classic rubber toe cap, gold branding on the tongue, plus "Willy" printed in gold on the lateral side of the left shoe and "Kareem" in gold on the lateral side of the right shoe, a shoutout to NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, the shoe's namesake.
Chavarria, a Mexican-American from Huron, California, outside of Fresno, has never shied away from the influence of Chicano culture. In an era of increased persecution against Latinos in America, Chavarria has used his Adidas collaboration to remind everyone just how much influence Latin culture has on sneakers and fashion.
It should be no surprise, then, that Chavarria picked the Jabbar for his canvas out of the Adidas vault. In addition to his Hall of Fame career on the court, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 78, has long been a champion of progressive politics, speaking out for immigrants and funding programs that support Black and Latino students in STEM education.
The Willy Chavarria x Adidas Off-White Jabbar low will release August 16, 2025, through the adidas Confirmed app and select retailers online and in-store. Available in unisex sizing, the Jabbar Lows are priced at $160. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. zach.h@soleretriever.com
