This year’s Los Angeles Fashion Week got a serious upgrade. The week-long celebration of style, held earlier this month, was highlighted by the highly anticipated show from Adidas Original.
It featured a collaboration with a powerful line-up of emerging Black designers who are making their mark in the industry today.
In recognition of Los Angeles’s reputation as a global center for creativity, The New Mart in downtown Los Angeles was transformed into a vibrant fashion hub last week, where these talented individuals presented a showcase that transcended the typical fashion show. They highlighted custom, reimagined Adidas sportswear designs with the highly anticipated adiZero Goukana sneaker—set to launch this summer—serving as the foundation of their collections. Their work pushed the limits of traditional fashion through tech-driven designs that beautifully center a rich blend of art and the true stories of our culture.
Keep scrolling to discover how five of the most inventive Black fashion designers highlighted Adidas’ commitment to innovation and cultural storytelling, and you’ll see how they elevated L.A. Fashion Week beyond just a moment in fashion. They transformed it into a moving expression of identity and showcased the endless possibilities of Black voices in design.
Baba Jagne
Baba Jagne kept it real with their collection, making sure to stick to their brand’s vibe. “We took core pieces from our brand and adapted them to fit within Adidas’ identity,” they shared.
The goal was to blend their existing designs with Adidas elements while keeping functionality front and center. “Every piece needed to transition seamlessly – from the gym to work.” Watching the collection come to life was rewarding for them, especially since teaming up with Adidas was a big dream.
“We literally had Adidas on our vision board for the year,” Jayne added. One standout was a glow-in-the-dark piece that quickly became a favorite, balancing both practicality and eye-catching aesthetics.
Bishme Cromartie
For Bishme Cromartie, this collection in particular meant a great deal on a personal level. It was a heartfelt nod to his sister, who passed away in 2022. Cromartie explained that she was all about hip-hop and Adidas and that each piece tells an emotional journey, moving from anger (in red) to resilience (in denim) and finally to transformation (in black).
“Fashion is how I process emotions,” he said, as illustrated by his final look on the runway, a revamped track pant that hit home, symbolizing healing and creative expression.
House of Gray
When designing their collection, House of Gray took a deep dive into exploring Adidas’ archives. They studied Adidas’ history, especially its work in the 80s, to find a way to merge its identity with their own. They aimed to mix classic tailoring with Adidas’ legacy, putting together a collection that felt both nostalgic and fresh.
House of Aama
House of Aama, founded by Rebecca Henry and her daughter Akua Shabaka, is known for beautifully weaving together Black ancestral stories and histories into their designs. By celebrating the rich heritage and experiences of the Black community, the brand creates clothing that deepens this connection, and their partnership with Afidas shows how fashion can serve as a dynamic medium for storytelling that allows their wearers to express their identity and pride.
ECÉ Designs
ECÉ Designs values authenticity. They drew inspiration from previous pieces and mixed in Adidas designs to fit everyday life.
With a history in track and field, their teaming up with Adidas felt like a natural fit. They aimed to blend youth culture, fashion and streetwear while ensuring their pieces are functional for athletes.
