Kader Sylla is getting his own adidas shoe for the first time, and the design goes back to the basketball sneakers he grew up liking. His new adidas Kader is a mid-top skate shoe based around a ’90s Equipment basketball model, with the older hoops shape reworked for what he actually needs on a board.

The Three Stripes are handled differently than they are on most adidas shoes. Sylla worked with the design team to build them into the lacing system, making the branding part of the shoe instead of simply adding stripes to the side panels. Suede and contrasting materials round out the upper and keep some of that older adidas basketball feel intact.

A cupsole sits underneath with full-length Lightmotion cushioning to handle impact while skating. AdiTuff underlays reinforce the suede upper in areas that tend to wear down faster, and elastic wings around the tongue are there to keep the foot from moving around inside the shoe.

Sylla’s connection to basketball goes further than the look of the Kader. He played growing up and has been into older adidas basketball shoes for years, which gave the design team plenty to pull from. That influence shows up mostly in the shape and proportions, while the actual build remains centered around skateboarding.

The first pair comes in Core Black with College Purple and Gold Metallic, including purple suede through the Three Stripes. A second colorway switches things up with black and brown suede alongside metallic gold detailing.

Sylla joined adidas Skateboarding in 2021 after turning pro at 16. The launch of his signature shoe will also take him on a world tour beginning in October, starting with stops in Minneapolis, Des Moines, Kansas City, Denver and Los Angeles. More stops across Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia are planned through 2027.

The adidas Kader “Core Black/College Purple-Gold Metallic” releases in October 2026 through select skate shops and adidas. The black, brown and metallic gold colorway will follow later in 2026.

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