.new collection
Adidas x Arte Antwerp SS26
*Football Culture through the People of Marrakech
written MARK ASHKINS
The new adidas x Arte Antwerp capsule turns toward North African football culture with a clarity that feels grounded in the everyday. Marrakech becomes the setting, not as a backdrop but as a place with its own tempo, its own logic, its own way of holding people together around the game.
Photographer Ilyes Griyeb moves through this environment with a steady eye, meeting the neighbourhood at its own pace and letting the surroundings speak through surfaces, faces and small movements that occur without performance.
Arte Antwerp, shaped by the perspective of founder Bertony Da Silva, has always carried a sensitivity toward cultural intersections, and that undercurrent aligns naturally with adidas and its long engagement with football. The capsule reflects this shared ground. Red, green, white and black run through the pieces with a quiet confidence. Embroidery and lace trims bring texture without leaning into decoration.
Tracksuits, knit jerseys, loose trousers and graphic tops take their place within a vocabulary that feels purposeful. Arabic lettering translating to Sport Unites Africa appears on select garments and extends the conversation toward the communities that inspired the collection. Moving through the neighbourhood, Griyeb meets people whose presence gives the work its orientation. Groups gather near open fields, children pass through the frame as part of their routine, and moments of pause unfold in streets that hold the light in a particular way. The clothing settles into these scenes without seeking attention, becoming part of the environment. There is an ease in how bodies and garments share space, and that ease shapes the tone of the entire series.
Brahim Díaz appears in the extended visual material and quietly expands the field of reference. His Moroccan and European background reflects the cultural paths that define much of contemporary football, and his presence adds a subtle resonance. The project treats these layers with restraint, allowing them to take shape through observation, no explanation needed.
Footwear sits within the same framework. The Lightblaze POD ZIP, slides and upcoming sneaker silhouettes enter the visual rhythm without shifting its balance. Their forms respond to movement, dust, and the physicality of the setting, echoing the way the apparel interacts with the landscape. The progression of images feels continuous, guided by the structures, streets and open areas that hold the community together.
What remains is a capsule that finds its place within a lived environment where football is part of the day.
The collaboration between adidas and Arte Antwerp gains its strength from this proximity to real spaces and real routines, and the campaign keeps its focus there, letting the neighbourhood shape the story with a steady and unforced presence.
Campaign photography by Ilyes Griyeb, featuring members of the Marrakech community
all images courtesy of Adidas and Arte Antwerp, PR