Bad Bunny Wears Adidas Boxing Sneakers at ‘Barrio Triste’ Premiere in New York
NEW YORK — Global music icon Bad Bunny turned heads at the 63rd New York Film Festival on Sunday, not just for his presence at the premiere of Barrio Triste—but for what was on his feet.
Stepping onto the red carpet at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theatre, the Puerto Rican artist grounded his oversized tailored ensemble with an unexpected twist: a pair of crisp, white Adidas boxing-style sneakers that quietly bridged sport heritage with street fashion.
The shoes, believed to be a version of Adidas’ Box Hog model, brought an athletic edge to the red carpet. Designed for performance in the ring, the silhouette features high-top construction with paneled leather uppers, flat soles, and reinforced suede overlays. The dense eyelet rows and extended lacing reflect the shoe’s core function—ankle support and grip in a boxing match. Yet on this night, the pair took on a new role: elevating a monochrome fashion statement on one of cinema’s most prestigious stages.
A Stylish Nod to Adidas’ Heritage
Bad Bunny’s footwear choice wasn’t just a fashion move; it was a continuation of his long-standing partnership with Adidas—one that has blurred the lines between performance gear and cultural commentary.
The artist’s collaboration with the German sportswear giant began in 2021 with the debut of the Forum Low “First Café,” a sneaker that quickly sold out and helped set the tone for what would become a dynamic, ever-evolving relationship. Since then, Bad Bunny has released a range of sneakers, including reinterpretations of the Gazelle, Ballerina, and the Gazelle City Series inspired by Puerto Rico—his homeland.
His red carpet look at the Barrio Triste premiere underscores a broader pattern: using Adidas’ archival designs to tell stories, both personal and universal. It’s a strategy that has worked well for the artist, especially as his off-stage appearances have become extensions of his creative output.
In July, for instance, Bad Bunny was spotted wearing the Wales Bonner x Adidas Karintha Lo on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, offering another example of how he weaves in Adidas collaborations into public appearances, often favoring less commercial silhouettes and deeper cuts from the brand’s archives.
A Creative Partnership That Keeps Evolving
The Box Hog sneaker, originally launched in the early 2000s for competitive boxing, is hardly an obvious choice for a red carpet. But Bad Bunny has built a career on the unexpected—fusing genres, bending gender norms, and now, reviving a performance sneaker for a cinematic premiere.
While not an official collaboration shoe from his signature Adidas line, the choice of the Box Hog illustrates how deeply embedded the partnership has become. It reflects a curated, considered approach to style—one that highlights the artist’s appreciation for both function and fashion.
And it’s not just about shoes. The Barrio Triste premiere marks a significant moment in Bad Bunny’s evolving creative narrative. The film is the directorial debut of Stillz, the artist’s longtime visual collaborator, and explores themes of youth, class, and identity through Medellín’s underground music scene.
For an artist known for crossing borders—musically, visually, and now cinematically—Bad Bunny’s decision to wear Adidas boxing sneakers speaks to more than style. It signals his ongoing commitment to storytelling, collaboration, and redefining the spaces in which artists are expected to move.
