Drama Call's Debut Adidas Superstar Is A Love Letter to Manchester

Stateside, the current attention given to the Three Stripes can be largely credited to Pharrell Williams, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, and Anthony Edwards. Overseas, however, places like Manchester have long-appreciated the German sportswear institution, championing its products as lifestyle companions and not simple material items. The hometown heroes at Drama Call have taken their first official collaboration with Adidas as an opportunity to reinforce this storied relationship. Their canvas?: An Adidas Superstar II.

Drama Call's work on the shell-toe is the latest in a growing catalog of remakes developed to honor the sneaker's 55th anniversary. But while some collaborators have brought wild updates to the icon, Charlie Bows and team have kept things deceptively simple on their debut Superstar II.

The pair's predominantly two-tone color scheme references Manchester's Metrolink system—specifically its Firema T-68 that operated between 1991 and 2009. Buttery-soft leather across the upper sets the stage for profile 3-Stripes in a contrasting turquoise hue. The iconic branding hit also opts for a shiny patent leather build.

Additional panels at the heel deviate further from their pitch-dark surroundings, keeping things light in off-white; drama wordmarks replacing traditional Superstar text on the lateral mid-foot follows suit.

What's particularly impressive about Drama Call's Superstar is the molded forefoot. Bows reworked the standard shell-toe, bringing his brand's signature star motif to the vintage basketball design. Updating molds, especially those in production for over 50 years, is no small feat, demonstrating Adidas' commitment to getting its collaborator's vision right.

But Bows' tweaks don't stop there. The Mancunian creative added a semi-translucent icy outsole to the classic sneaker, which features the same three-star emblem that arrives with the pair in the form of a silver charm tag. Star-shaped perforations have also been applied in-between profile branding. Double-sided insoles sort of work as easter eggs, while the custom shoe box doubles-down on the Metrolink system-inspiration.

Enjoy detailed shots of the Manchester-inspired Adidas Superstar II below. Firm release details haven't been disclosed by either party involved as of this writing, but that's expected to change soon.

For more footwear from the Three Stripes, check out the Adidas SPZL Spring/Summer 2025 collection launching on Thursday, March 27.