adidas Originals and Brain Dead join forces once again in a collection that fuses sport and art through the unconventional lens of Kyle Ng. As in their first collaboration, the starting point is a classic tennis silhouette reimagined through Brain Dead’s distinctive visual language.
Brand, creative studio, ephemeral collective… Brain Dead defies definitions—and so do its collaborations. In this second chapter with adidas, the spotlight returns to tennis, one of Kyle Ng’s favorite sports. While their first project centered around the iconic Stan Smith, this time they revisit another 1970s classic: the adidas Forest Hills.
adidas Originals x Brain Dead Forest Hills
In a world as traditional as tennis, the adidas Forest Hills broke the mold when it launched in 1976. It was designed to be radically different: ultra-lightweight (just 246 grams), with a sole five times more durable than standard ones, and a ventilation system developed by aerospace engineers that lowered internal temperatures by 20%. Its name referenced the New York neighborhood where the U.S. Open is held.
In the 1980s, the Forest Hills made an unexpected comeback thanks to the Terrace culture, which adopted several archival models. Like the adidas Samba or Handball, the Forest Hills transcended its original context to become a generational icon.
Brain Dead’s reinterpretation brings in new materials like textured suede, exposed stitching, and authentic details like the signature Ecotex tongue.
The apparel collection, adidas x Brain Dead
The capsule is rounded out with a range of garments: pants, jackets, t-shirts, polos, caps, and bags. All built on a singular vision—vintage tennis aesthetics, relaxed silhouettes, textured fabrics, and bold graphic work. A collection that reimagines adidas’ sporting legacy through a creative, urban, and multidisciplinary lens.
