In 2023, adidas Originals was beginning to build momentum; but with the 75th anniversary of hip-hop and many more culturally significant events in play, it was time for the brand to reset in a big way.

So we set out to ignite the Trefoil in culture not with a new product, but one of its most classic—the Superstar—to present the story of how adidas Originals was taken up by the worlds of sport, and taken further by culture.

As younger consumers were beginning to look to brands with substance over commercial hype, adidas Originals was uniquely poised to reintroduce itself to this new consumer—tracing the brand’s influence and adoption throughout eras, countries, cultures, and subcultures.

With a mission to engage this consumer, to build even more heat into the brand, and turn eyes to our most iconic products, we set out to show the world what makes adidas Originals, original.

The editor’s use of chapters, graphics, narration, illustration, music, archival footage, and original photography helped craft an edit that navigates both movement and emotions. The editor’s use of 16mm, VHS, DV cam et al, brought an authenticity to the film; from there the editor was able to weave in the historical footage seamlessly and present a unified journey through Superstar’s rich history. For the soundtrack, the editor and director wanted to touch on the rich diet of musical influences while still presenting a cohesive perspective. While they were navigating that tricky musical journey, the director started humming Moroder’s “Tears” - it quickly became clear to the editor where the project's backbone and ultimately the edit’s destination lay.