The official unveiling of Derrick Rose's 7th signature sneaker with Adidas, the D Rose 7, was largely overshadowed by last night's coverage of the Air Jordan 31. Ironically, none of the four initial colorways that were revealed have any hits of orange and blue, but there are plenty of "Bulls" inspired pairs.
If you've been living under a rock all Summer, this is worth noting because Derrick Rose plays for the New York Knicks now.
Adidas' VP of Global Design, and the Knicks' point guard addressed this issue at the unveiling of his 7th signature sneaker last night:
“For each D Rose signature shoe, we focus on a very specific element of storytelling behind what inspires Derrick on and off the court,” said Brian Foresta, vice president of Global Design, adidas Basketball. “With the D Rose 7, we’re ensuring that Derrick’s hometown is never far from him on and off the court. His perseverance and passion to rise above every challenge is what makes him special, so we focused on bringing that to life.”
“Chicago’s always been my home and this shoe represents the city that made me the man I am today. From how I play the game, how I live my life and how it’s prepared me for my next step in New York,” said Rose. “It’s the perfect tribute to the city and fans that helped raise and support me. It’s built for my game and gives me an added incentive knowing that I’m carrying my city with me on every play.”
In fact, the shoes are actually inspired by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It never ceases to amaze me how far brands will go in order to find some inspiration for a pair of sneakers. Next, Damian Lillard's signature shoe will be a tribute to Lewis and Clark's expedition of the Pacific Northwest and their cultural impact in Portland during 1805.
Getting back on track though, the Adidas D Rose 7 will be hitting retailers in the "Solar Red" colorway on August 11th for $160. Additional pairs like the "Smoke Gray," "Hydration," and "White/Black/Red" will be scattered throughout August, September and October.