Lead Designer Patrick Zempolich speaks about Anthony Edwards’ debut signature shoe ahead of December 16th launch.
Anthony Edwards is captivating at his core. Sewn from the heartland of Atlanta, the freshly-minted All-Star is a must-see spectacle whether he’s on the hardwood or in front of the camera. At just 22 years old, the Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard has cemented his dominance League-wide with an ear-to-ear grin. It’s one of the litany of reasons why he’s been positioned as the face of adidas Basketball.
On December 16th, the adidas AE1 will officially debut via adidas.com and at global retailers for the price of $120 USD. The launch colorway is dubbed “With Love.” Executing a polarizing yet streamlined design, Anthony Edwards’ first signature silhouette is one of the most futuristic designs in the brand’s history, drawing widespread praise for an originality that willfully stands apart from the recent crop of debut shoes in the basketball ecosystem.
With one of the most exciting, eccentric personalities and on-court bags in the NBA leading the future of the brand’s on-court endeavors, the 3-Stripes leaned into a new creative direction spearheaded by lead designer Patrick Zempolich for the debut of Anthony Edwards’ signature series.
Zempolich originally joined the 3-Stripes as a footwear designer for the basketball banner in 2018. Ahead of helming his first signature series, the New York native had conceptualized the Son of Chi silhouette – a signature take-down for Derrick Rose – and the 2021 release of the N3XT L3V3L Futurenatural.
“It’s exciting. I’m definitely blessed to have the opportunity to define a range (of silhouettes) at the beginning. It doesn’t come often,” Zempolich said in late September.
Inside a ballroom at the Kimpton Shane Hotel located on the outskirts of downtown Atlanta, Zempolich sits in a plush white leather chair placed strategically in front of a beaming peach-orange backdrop that bears a first look at Anthony Edwards’ signature logo, a parallel of the striking design to come. (READ THE FULL STORY HERE.)