Sneaker collaborations are one of the elements that keep this industry exciting. When your favorite musical superstar or NBA player teams up with a high-profile shoe brand, the result is something collection-worthy.
Adidas has long embraced these kinds of partnerships, as evidenced by the prolific Yeezy line. They did it again with the Adidas Human Race collection, filled with colorful and unique designs that flew off the shelves when they debuted back in 2016.
How did this collaboration happen? Where did the history of these shoes begin? Today, we’re diving into the details and sharing the backstory you need to know.
December 2015: First Adidas NMD Release
The year 2015 was major for Adidas. It was then that they first released their Nomad (NMD) shoes, marketed as street-style sneakers with a futuristic vibe.
Designed to be casual lifestyle kicks, the shoes were super-loaded with features that amplified both their performance and comfort. They featured new-wave cushioning and a throwback 80s design that made them instantly popular. People bought them for their looks, but kept them for the extra-durable Primeknit uppers and Boost midsoles.
It was an instant hit, and the fan craze continued to grow.
The original NMD shoes were new classics, featuring multi-colored blocks on the midsole that gave them a sense of style and humor. Once the first pair debuted, Adidas released five different versions.
Each was special in its own right, but there was one that stood above the rest.
July 2016: NMD Human Race Debuts
Adidas continued to release NMD lines throughout the next year. In July 2016, they partnered with musician Pharrell Williams to release an extra-special one.
It was titled NMD Human Race or NMD Hu for short. The debut pair was the Yellow colorway, which launched on July 22, 2016. It featured the words “Human Race” embroidered across the upper. While there have been many different colorways launched since then, the original Yellow one remains highly coveted to this day.
It’s also one of the highest-priced shoes in the sneaker resale market, heralded for its sleek look and supreme comfort.
Special Features to Note
One of the most unique features of these Pharrell shoes is the unique lacing system on each one of them. Similar to the Adidas NMD CS1 line, these sneakers were designed to fit like a glove.
The design was sock-like in nature, cradling wearers’ feet all day long. Yet, here’s where the design gets even more interesting. Adidas built a cage into the midsole that offered supreme flexibility and easy adjustments.
Wearers could pull the cage tighter if they wanted a closer fit. Or, they could loosen it to relax the fit. As you can imagine, sneakerheads went wild over this unique touch, and the shoes remain one of the brand’s most popular lines.
September 2016: Full Pack Released
The July 2016 debut of the Adidas Pharrell Human Race NMD Yellow colorway generated exactly the type of buzz that Adidas had hoped for. In fact, the response was so overwhelming that only two months later, the brand released an entire pack of colorways.
The pack debuted on September 29, 2016, and included Blue, Black, Green, Tangerine, and Red colorways in addition to the original Yellow. Of those, the Black colorway became the best-selling and most popular. While the Yellow colorway had included the words “Human Race” across the upper, the pack included several different variations of text, such as:
- Hu Race
- Human Being
- Human Species
November 2017: Special Hiking Editions Hit the Market
The Pharrell/Adidas collaboration was so well-received that the brand relished the response for well over a year. The original Yellow colorway continued to sell out, and the newly-released five-pack was equally popular.
They could have stopped there, and it would still have been one of the best celebrity sneaker collaborations in history. Yet, the two kept going.
On November 11, 2017, Adidas treated fans to a brand-new release: An Adidas Pharrell Human Race NMD pack designed specifically for rough-terrain hiking! Dubbed the “Hiking Collection”, it appealed to avid collectors who wanted both street-ready shoes and ones they could take out in nature.
This new pack included four different colorways, each with a different design. Gone were the solid, primary colors that defined the first release and original five-pack. The Hiking Collection featured intricate designs and a busier appearance.
Hiking Collection Colorways and Designs
The Teal colorway was arguably the tamest of them all, featuring a simple all-teal upper. Yet, that pair also featured the words “Moon” and “Clouds” across the PrimeKnit. Adidas embroidered the same two words on the Oreo colorway, which was decked out in black and white stripes.
The Pale Nude colorway was a subdued tan, with a bright orange cage at the midsole. It had the words “Breathe” and “Walk” on each upper. For wearers who really wanted to showcase their personality and rock a bold look on the trail, the Multicolor sneakers were perfect.
Featuring variations of orange, brown, and teal, the sneakers had the words “Earth” and “Body” on the uppers. Along with those four colorways, the Hiking Collection also included other items that avid hikers could appreciate, including:
- Durable, three-layer jacket
- Compact windbreaker
- Sleeveless padded jacket (gilet)
- A hoodie
- Cargo pants
- Leggings
- T-shirt
- Vest
Buyers snatched up the collection, including the extra additions. It was a successful release that would catalyze others down the road.
March 2018: Cultural Packs Begin
In 2018, a few new Adidas Pharrell Human Race NMD packs were released. This year, the focus was on celebrating diversity and recognizing great countries and cultures around the world.
The first release happened in March 2018. That month, Adidas and Pharrell debuted the NMD Holi Pack. Designed to pay homage to India’s Holi Color Festival, the pack included four different colorways:
- Black
- White
- Pink
- Coral
The shoes were pastel in nature and featured a swirl design on the sides and upper.
Then, in May 2018, Adidas and Pharrell released the NMD China Pack. This pack included Green, Red, and Blue colorways that recognized the bold and colorful spirit of Chinese culture. There was also a special release that featured a light tan PrimeKnit upper and a shiny gold cage, but it was only available as a Friends and Family (F&F) pair.
Finally, August 2018 saw the release of the NMD Human Race Solar Pack, which gave a nod to the heritage of East Africa. In all, it included three colorways:
- Hi-Red Aqua/Core Black
- Core Black/Red
- Red/Bright Blue
November 2018: Inspiration Pack Debuts
In November 2018, Adidas and Pharrell dropped the Inspiration Pack, which was designed to promote diversity and inclusion. Each shoe in the collection featured Chinese characters that translated to motivational messages, such as Empower and Inspire.
The pack included four different colorways:
- Powder Blue/Light Pink/Orange
- Clear Sky/Core Black/Bold Orange
- Green/Core Black/Bold Orange
- White/Bold Green/Bright Yellow
September 2019: Now Is Her Time Collection Released
Since their original debut in 2016, there have continued to be many different releases and variations of the original Adidas Pharrell Human Race NMD sneaker line.
One of the most notable occurred in September 2019. That month, the brand released the “Now Is Her Time” collection. At the release, Adidas made a statement that spoke to the importance of women’s rights. It advocated for a woman’s right to her own body, choices, decisions, and more.
The pack included four bright colorways that drew inspiration from previous NMD lines, including Solar Hu.
October 2019: Limited Edition Human Race x Human Made
In October 2019, Adidas and Pharrell teamed up with another brand, Human Made, for a special, limited-edition release called Human Race x Human Made.
These collections featured one NMD Hu sneaker, as well as a Solar Hu sneaker and a Tennis Hu sneaker. Each shoe featured an all-white upper and the heart logo from Human Made.
Other Collabs and Releases to Remember
While these are some of the most popular and well-known packs and colorways released under the Adidas Pharrell Human Race NMD sneaker collection, they aren’t the only ones.
For instance, the Tennis Hu line continues to release new versions, each featuring a solid-colored upper and comfy sole. While these shoes aren’t quite as hyped as some of the other collections, they are more accessible and affordable to sneakerheads around the world. If you aren’t able to snag the limited-edition shoes you want, you can get a similar look by investing in a pair of Tennis Hu sneakers instead.
Pharrell has also experimented with unique touches and different design elements in his partnership with Adidas. For instance, there are multi-dimensional pairs that feature 4D midsoles!
Which Adidas Human Race Sneaker Will You Buy?
As you can see, the history of the Adidas Human Race sneaker is rich and interesting! Since these sneakers first debuted in 2016, Pharrell and The Three Stripes have continued to revolutionize the industry. Whether you want a simple, solid pair or a crazy-hued pair to add to your collection, there’s something for everyone.
Search for the look you want, and remember to take great care of your kicks. These can last a lifetime if you wear them properly and clean them often.
Looking for more fashion inspiration? We have the guides you need on our blog, so keep reading!
Leave a Reply