Unheardof is based in Cincinnati, but founder Philip Lipschutz has just revealed his newest Adidas collaboration in New York City.
Several posters reading “Dear Brooklyn, You’re Welcome” have been wheatpasted throughout NYC, which features the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge that connects Covington, Ky., to Cincinnati. The posters also feature the new Unheardof x Adidas Rivalry Low.
There is a billboard promoting the collaboration near the Brooklyn Bridge at 210 South St., and wheatpasted posters are up in several NYC neighborhoods.
“I’m coming up on 25 years in the footwear industry, starting at 15 years old as a shoe buyer at my local AAA skate shop. Within weeks of working there, I constantly pitched shoe ideas to brands for a collaboration. For about 20 years I was told, ‘You can’t do it unless you’re in New York,'” Lipschutz told FN. “Since that moment, I’ve had a chip on my shoulder to prove that I can make it in Cincinnati and I’ll let the world know who Cincinnati is.”
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He continued, “I admire and respect all the things New York has done and has to offer. Learning about Andy Warhol leaving Pittsburgh for New York City and putting drawings up in storefront windows stuck with me because in my eyes, he was telling the world to get ready for him. This little piggy is coming to New York City, putting art up on walls, letting the world know what Unheardof is all about.”
The collaboration on the poster is the Unheardof x Adidas Rivalry Low “Building Bridges.” The look includes several nods to the aforementioned John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, such as the stones that consume the uppers, the blue suede on the Three Stripes branding that serves as a nod to its “Roebling Blue” hue and the translucent foam green outsoles that symbolize the Ohio River in the summer.
“I chose the Adidas Rivalry Low because it’s one of many shoes I wore as a child in elementary school and got made fun of for wearing because it wasn’t a pair of Jordans,” Lipschutz said. “I really like the idea of the word rivalry and what it means to me. The silhouette, in my eyes, is perfect for skating, mosh pits at Korn shows and throwing up tags in alleys.”
The Unheardof x Adidas Rivalry Low arrives Oct. 25 via Unheardofbrand.com and will retail for $165.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
