Adidas and Pharrell unveil Ksh129,000 shoe concept
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 23.01.26. | 14:18
The unique shoe has been positioned less as a racing weapon and more as a conceptual study of what the future of performance footwear could look like
Adidas and Pharrell Williams’ Humanrace brand have pushed performance footwear deeper into the realm of design experimentation with the unveiling of the Humanrace x Adidas EVOLUTION Pro, a $1,000 (approximately Ksh129,300) running shoe.
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The unique shoe has been positioned less as a racing weapon and more as a conceptual study of what the future of performance footwear could look like.
Set to release on Saturday, 24 January, the EVOLUTION Pro builds on the athlete-validated foundation of Adidas’ ADIZERO Adios Pro Evo 1 marathon shoe, which debuted in 2023 with a then eye-catching $500 price tag.
Pharrell’s interpretation doubles that cost, signaling that this collaboration is aimed at collectors, design enthusiasts, and cultural tastemakers rather than everyday runners.
At its core, the EVOLUTION Pro retains Adidas’ most advanced running technology. A full-length Lightstrike Pro midsole anchors the shoe, ensuring elite-level comfort and responsiveness despite its experimental positioning.
That same foam has underpinned Adidas’ recent dominance at the top of marathon racing, with the brand claiming seven of the 12 victories across the World Marathon Majors in 2025.
Four of those wins came in the Pro Evo 2, with the remainder in the original Pro Evo 1. Only one other brand, On, appeared more than once on the podium.
Like the Pro Evo 1 and Pro Evo 2, both of which weigh just 138 grams in a men’s size 9.5, making them the lightest running shoes Adidas has ever produced, the EVOLUTION Pro uses that ultra-light performance base.
However, Pharrell reworks the silhouette in ways that push it firmly into conceptual territory.
Visually, the shoe is defined by an exaggerated, widened sole and a feather-light white mono-mesh upper.
The upper is finished with a distinctive raised “5D” dot texture that extends across the Three Stripes branding, adding a tactile, almost sculptural feel.
Tonal laces and a muted, monochromatic palette reflect Pharrell’s clean and understated design language, while sections of the outsole feature a blue-and-green marbled pattern intended to evoke the earth.
Beyond aesthetics, Adidas says the EVOLUTION Pro introduces “touch-reactive” haptic elements designed to create a sensory experience and a more intimate connection between the wearer and the product.
While the brand has not detailed exactly how these features function, the concept has drawn comparisons to Nike’s recent Mind franchise, which uses pressure-based design elements to promote calm and focus around performance.
Despite the futuristic look and experimental details, Adidas has emphasized that performance remains central to the shoe’s DNA.
Reinforced outsole panels and the Lightstrike Pro midsole mirror the construction of the brand’s elite marathon racers, even as the EVOLUTION Pro evolves the idea of a running shoe from a purely functional tool into an immersive, sensory object.
Crucially, Adidas has made it clear that this is not a shoe built for mass release or racing dominance. Limited availability through select retailers and Adidas’ own channels, combined with its four-figure price tag, positions the EVOLUTION Pro as a statement piece.
It follows a broader strategy in which Adidas has spun off more accessible models from the Pro Evo platform, such as the Evo SL daily trainer, which borrows the Pro Evo 1’s geometry and Lightstrike Pro foam but omits the carbon fiber plate that defines a true super shoe.
