The Curious Case of the Adidas Adistar Squid by Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams and Adidas Originals have been in partnership since March 2014. Over the last decade, the collaborators have breathed new life into classic sport styles while also pushing the boundaries of what's expected from footwear, apparel, and accessories through lines like Hu, Humanrace, and most recently VIRGINIA.

An ode to his home state, VIRGINIA is a multi-disciplinary expression from Williams. Launched in his hometown of Virginia Beach, the program encompasses music, product, and community-oriented initiatives with the dual-aim of celebrating its founder's origins and giving folks who've never stepped foot on the state a taste of Virginia. The multi-channel effort has already presented a number of items, but one in particular has won over audiences of all walks of life: the VIRGINIA Adistar Jellyfish.

Backed by the Three Stripes, the Jellyfish is the latest chapter in Williams' expansive design catalog. The 52-year-old was spotted wearing the undisclosed model throughout Paris ahead of and during the city's January 2025 Fashion Week®. Savvy Adidas collectors, however, were quick to spot similarities between the chunky sneaker and the Adistar Cushion 3, a cushion-oriented running model from 2005.

"Pharrell saw the early concepts, locked in, and said, 'Go way bigger,'" shared former Adidas Design Director Zac Andrews in an Instagram post that's since been deleted. According to Andrews, the Men's Creative Director at Louis Vuitton loved the Jellyfish's sculptural layers and nature-inspired colorways (white, grey, green, tan, and orange). From there, the team involved with bringing the design to life focused on pushing the boundaries, going in the opposite direction of the trendy, low-profile footwear offerings from other parts of the Three Stripes.

The VIRGINIA Adistar Jellyfish made its proper debut during Summer 2025—naturally, in Paris. Special seeded pairs of the robust runner were packaged as jellyfish "imported" from the coasts of Virginia would, helping build out the design's concept.

An "Orange"-accented style was made available to the public, but only in highly-limited quantities and with a $300 price tag. Casual and savvy consumers alike quickly flocked to the appropriate channels at a chance of securing a pair, although many have had to resort to after-mark platforms like StockX for a W.

Williams and his Adidas Originals family have every intention of continuing to launch the Jellyfish in other color schemes throughout the next year. Pusha T and Malice of Clipse have been two of the silhouette's most visible proponents over the last several months. It seems, however, that the VIRGINIA offering won't ever become as easily-available to the masses as collaborative pairs of the Stan Smith, Superstar, and Samba have been.

For this, Michael Camargo—also known to the world as Upscale Vandal—says the collaborators have a solution: the Adidas Adistar Squid.

Camargo laced up the sneaker in a "Footwear White/Core Black/Solar Orange" color scheme during ComplexCon Las Vegas. There, he expressed that "the 'Squids'...[are] going to be like a more attainable, accessible version" of the Jellyfish.

A quick glance at both models showcases similar design elements, but what's still unclear is whether or not the model Camargo has refereed to as "the Squids" is a proper collaboration between the Three Stripes and Williams.

An internal product description obtained by Elden Monitors in mid-August for the style debuted by Camargo claimed the sneaker was named the Adistar XLG 2.0. Given the sneaker's enlarged proportions and naming scheme, it seems the project was simply the latest addition to the ongoing Adidas XLG series, which modifies popular heritage footwear with chunky sole units.

The sneaker's AdiPRENE and AdiPRENE+ base is reworked from the Adistar Cushion 3. The sole unit is sculpted in such a way that the hind-foot is lifted much higher than its muse, matching the Jellyfish closer. Synthetic overlays along the profiles have also been reimagined to protrude across the sidewalls instead of sitting flush against the retro runner's mesh upper. The changes create a clear through-line to Williams' project, although no mention to him, his imprint, nor the "Squid" name are found on the shoe.

Could it be that Camargo made privy information that wasn't supposed to be shared with the public? "Takedown" models of important footwear designs are nothing new—look at the Air Jordan 4 and Air Jordan 4 RM, for example. These budget-friendlier, more-readily-available styles, however, are seldom marketed as part of a collaborator's work or signature line, raising an eyebrow with the Adistar Squid/Adistar XLG 2.0.

Thorough inspection of the "Squids" in any of its inaugural color schemes only reveals Adistar and Cushion branding on the tongue label and footbed. Its internal 2.0 distinction suggests the model has a predecessor. A quick internet search reveals that this is the case, presenting an aptly-named Adistar XLG 1.0 that's still on sale at some retailers. The reimagined runner debuted in January 2024, offering an aesthetic that's similar to what eventually made its way to the VIRGINIA Adistar Jellyfish, but that deviates much more from the Cushion 3 from '05.

An Adistar XLG 2.0 name for the newly-surfaced design, then, makes sense, as does its direct association with PW's highly-limited collab. How the Three Stripes decides to handle the model's launch and subsequent marketing, however, has yet to be seen.

Enjoy photos of at least four ensembles to land on the impending sneaker ahead. Public-facing information from the German sportswear juggernaut is expected to surface before 2026 begins. Pairs should land via Adidas.com for around $140.

For more footwear news, check out House of Heat°'s dedicated Jordan Release Dates Calendar.