adidas Rivalry

About

The adidas Rivalry is a low- and high-top basketball sneaker first released in 1986, designed by Jacques Chassaing, the same designer behind the adidas Forum. It launched as part of the Ewing Collection for New York Knicks rookie Patrick Ewing, alongside the premium Ewing Conductor; the Rivalry was positioned as a more affordable alternative that looked similar to the Conductor without its costlier technology. Construction featured full-grain leather uppers (later editions also used suede, nubuck, or canvas), an EVA foam midsole for cushioning, and a grippy rubber outsole built for hardwood court traction and durability. Early pairs carried Ewing's name on the tongue branding before later re-releases replaced it with the adidas logo after Ewing parted ways with the brand. The Rivalry Hi's signature original colorway echoed the Knicks' blue, orange, and white team colors. Though it saw periodic re-releases over the decades, the silhouette stayed a niche retro pickup until the early 2020s, when it went viral on TikTok, prompting adidas to reissue the Rivalry widely and expand into numerous streetwear collaborations.