Kobe Bryant’s Adidas Sneaker Pays Tribute to His Home City of Philadelphia
Kobe Bryant’s first signature sneaker is paying tribute to the first city he called home.
The Adidas Crazy 8 “Philly” is clad in blue, white and red — colors commonly associated with Philadelphia because of the 76ers and Phillies. Blue suede forms the shoes upper and is set off by white leather striping and red branding. The wavy sole unit appears in blue and white, while the tongue tag adds gold trim for just that extra bit of pop.
Bryant was born in Philadelphia and moving to Italy for his father’s own professional basketball career, he returned to the City of Brotherly Love to play high school hoops. Never letting go of his own Philly roots, Bryant was a rabid Eagles fan — and the Nike Kobe 4 Protro “Girl Dad” that released earlier this year took on the same color as the Eagles beanie that he wore to watch a Los Angeles Lakers game with his daughter. Nike also rereleased the Kobe 4 “Philly” with a similar blue, white and red color scheme in April for the first time since it launched in 2009.
Originally known as the KB8, the Crazy 8 released in 1997 as the first of his five Adidas sneakers before he switched over to Nike in 2003. Beside the name change, the shoe’s sole unit has also been altered to move on from the Feet You Wear sole that first defined it, as Adidas’ license for the technology has long since expired. The face logo tied to the tech, however, still belongs to Adidas and is embroidered onto the medial heel and the bottom of the tongue to replace Bryant’s no. 8.
In September, Adidas introduced the first-ever low-top iteration of the Crazy 8. The brand has also continued the legacy of the Kobe line, without the Kobe name, through new riffs on the famous Audi TT-inspired Kobe 1, now called the Crazy 1.
The Adidas Crazy 8 “Philly” will release November 1 through Adidas’ website. Pricing is set at $180.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.