When global superstar Bad Bunny links up with adidas, the shoe world pays attention. Their blend have consistently blurred the line between performance footwear and street-ready style, transforming archival silhouettes into contemporary statements. For their latest project, the partnership turns its attention to the Adizero SL 72, a retro running model from the 1970s. Dubbed the “Nostalgic Trio”, this release channels heritage design, playful nostalgia, and Benito’s distinctive eye for color and detail.

The shoe is not just a reissue—it’s a narrative, rooted in adidas’s long-standing design DNA and updated through Bad Bunny’s lens of music, culture, and identity.

The Adizero SL 72: A Heritage Runner Reborn

First introduced in 1972, the adidas SL 72 was originally designed for athletes during the Munich Olympic Games. Lightweight, functional, and forward-thinking, it embodied the era’s sporting innovation while still offering an everyday appeal. Over the decades, the silhouette developed a cult following among sneaker enthusiasts, particularly in Europe and Latin America.

By revisiting this model, adidas and Bad Bunny are not merely mining nostalgia—they’re highlighting a shoe that once symbolized athletic progress and re-contextualizing it as a lifestyle staple for today.

The “Nostalgic Trio” iteration brings this history full circle. Its design cues nod to vintage textures and color palettes while incorporating modern touches that resonate with both runners and fashion-forward audiences.

A Trio of Tones

The “Nostalgic Trio” earns its name through its carefully chosen color scheme, which blends three complementary tones across the upper. Think retro suede overlays, nylon underlayers, and pops of vibrant accents that recall adidas’s vintage track styles. Each hue feels intentionally selected to conjure memories of old-school sports culture while still standing fresh against today’s sneaker market.

Bad Bunny’s creative direction often thrives in this tension—bridging past and present. Just as his music draws on reggaetón’s golden era while pushing into trap and experimental zones, his shoe designs merge the essence of old adidas runners with a new sense of identity.

Design

Every Bad Bunny x adidas collaboration has been distinguished by thoughtful, sometimes playful detailing. The Adizero SL 72 “Nostalgic Trio” is no different. Among the standout features:

• Layered Materials: Suede, mesh, and nylon echo the shoe’s archival roots, but with richer execution.

• Triple Branding: adidas’s three stripes remain iconic, but subtle cues—like Bad Bunny’s signature eye logo—add personal flair.

• Deconstructed Vibe: Slightly exaggerated tongues and visible stitching hint at the DIY aesthetic that has defined Benito’s sneaker partnerships.

• Custom Insoles: Featuring artwork that reflects both adidas heritage and Bad Bunny’s creative world.

These details elevate the release beyond a simple colorway. It feels lived-in, like an artifact from the past reimagined for today’s streets.

Culture

For Bad Bunny, shoes are more than accessories—they’re extensions of identity. From his early performances in chunky skate shoes to his courtside appearances in high-profile adidas collaborations, his footwear choices reinforce his eclectic, boundary-pushing persona.

The “Nostalgic Trio” taps into that ethos. By reintroducing a heritage runner, he links generational memories of adidas footwear to his own narrative as a modern cultural disruptor. Fans aren’t just buying a shoe—they’re buying into a story of resilience, heritage, and evolution.

In Latin America and beyond, adidas runners have long been part of everyday wardrobes. This mix  bridges that everyday familiarity with the elevated aura of a superstar co-sign. It’s democratic and aspirational all at once.

Release Strategy: Scarcity and Hype

adidas and Bad Bunny have mastered the art of release strategy. By controlling availability, leaning on regional drops, and creating event-like launches, they’ve turned each shoe into a culture moment.

The Adizero SL 72 “Nostalgic Trio” is expected to follow a similar path. Retailers anticipate limited stock, with raffles and online draws becoming the primary method of securing pairs. This scarcity not only fuels resale markets but also deepens the sense of exclusivity.

For adidas, this strategy bolsters brand relevance in an increasingly crowded shoe landscape. For Bad Bunny, it underscores his ability to mobilize global audiences beyond music—into fashion, lifestyle, and consumer culture.

Fashion Versatility: From Stage to Street

Part of the “Nostalgic Trio’s” appeal lies in its versatility. Unlike chunky basketball-inspired silhouettes, the SL 72 offers a low-profile, slim-lined look. It pairs just as easily with track pants and hoodies as it does with denim and oversized shirts. For fans, this means the shoe can move fluidly between casual streetwear fits and slightly more polished ensembles.

On stage, Bad Bunny himself has often used sneakers as visual punctuation to his wild outfits. On the street, fans mirror that approach—using the right pair to signal taste, affiliation, and individuality. The “Nostalgic Trio” thrives in that context, both understated and statement-making.

Nostalgia as Strategy

Nostalgia continues to play a dominant role in sneaker culture. Retro Jordans, reissued Dunks, and vintage-inspired runners all testify to the market’s appetite for the past. What sets the “Nostalgic Trio” apart is how it uses nostalgia as a starting point, not an endpoint.

This isn’t a carbon copy of the original SL 72. Instead, it’s an interpretive remix—true to the spirit of 1970s adidas design but layered with Bad Bunny’s vision of cultural relevance in 2025. It reminds us that nostalgia works best when it inspires something new, not when it repeats the old.

Adidas and Bad Bunny’s Evolving Partnership

The Bad Bunny x adidas partnership has proven to be one of the most successful celebrity-brand collaborations of the past five years. From the chunky Forum Buckle Low to the reimagined Campus and Response CL, each release has brought something distinctive.

The Adizero SL 72 “Nostalgic Trio” marks a new chapter. It’s less about maximalism and more about refinement, less about shock value and more about narrative layering. It shows that both adidas and Bad Bunny are invested in longevity, not just short-term hype.

Shoe as Storytelling

At its core, the Bad Bunny x adidas Adizero SL 72 “Nostalgic Trio” is about storytelling. It connects adidas’s Olympic-era innovation with today’s cultural hunger for authenticity. It channels nostalgia without being stuck in it. And it proves, once again, that Bad Bunny is not just a musician, but a cultural force capable of reshaping how we wear and interpret sneakers.

In the “Nostalgic Trio,” fans find more than a shoe—they find a bridge between eras, a fusion of sport and style, and a reminder that the past is never truly gone when reimagined through fresh eyes.

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