Denim Tears Superstar 82

Made in collaboration with adidas Originals, the Superstar 82 borrows red, black, blue and cream plaid for its full cotton canvas upper. The plaid has been borrowed before: reinterpreted from African patterns onto Asian scaffolding, then onto the plastic bag that originated in 1970s Hong Kong and came to New York’s Canal Street with African and Chinese immigrants.

The upper carries contrasting serrated 3-Stripes and deep blue detailing, with an embroidered canvas heel tab at the back. The shoe is built on rubber tooling and finished with metal eyelets and gold-foil adidas Originals and Denim Tears logos.

Tremaine Emory also drew on the Sankofa, an Adinkra symbol of Ghana’s Akan people, which Denim Tears introduces as a new motif on the heel and tongue through this collaboration. Its name means “go back and get it,” a reminder to go back for what you left behind.

 

Available exclusively at our Flagship NYC Store, African Diaspora Goods, on November 7th, 2026.

Free shipping in US for orders over $200 USD.

We accept returns for a cash refund, store credit or exchange (U.S. customers only) on eligible merchandise purchased online or in-store, provided items are unworn, in original condition, and returned with original packaging within 14 days of shipment. Returns received after 14 days, or items marked as Final Sale, are not eligible for return