First Looks // Tony’s Chocolonely x adidas Superstar

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The story behind Dutch chocolatiers Tony’s Chocolonely is an inspiring one.

In 2002, Dutch television producer and journalist Teun van de Keuken began producing programs about the abuses within the cocoa industry on his show Keuringsdienst van Waarde after discovering that almost none of the chocolate produced at the time was slave-free. Along with this, he also requested to be prosecuted for knowingly purchasing an illegally manufactured product, although the prosecutors chose not to do so. After three years of unsuccessful attempts to change the industry through investigative efforts, van de Keuken decided to start producing chocolate bars himself. The product quickly became a success, selling 20 thousand bars in a span of two days. It has since become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of slave-free chocolates. Leveraging that celebrity, the Three Stripes has linked-up with the chocolatiers for a special-edition Tony’s Chocolonely x adidas Superstar

The materials do appear to be sourced sustainably, with canvas uppers and faux leathers the main focus. Color-wise, the pair is pretty subdued, save the striking brand pops of red, yellow, and royal blue. The lateral ankle sees a redesigned adidas motif stylized in Tony’s typeface, whilst the added co-branded pulls read the brand’s slogan.

Given that the footwear industry is notorious for utilizing slave labor, you would think that a collaboration between Tony’s Chocolonely and adidas would be counter-productive to their marketing efforts. Of course, knowing Teun van de Keuken, it would likely only have gone ahead if there was a fair trade manufacturing contract in place — perhaps opening the door to a future where the footwear industry is free of unfair trade.

Grab a look for yourself just below, and be on the lookout for these at select Three Stripe stockists and adidas.com soon. As always, keep your eyes glued to our official Twitter account for further updates.