adidas Running x Song for the Mute reshapes performance with the Supernova Rise 3

In a world obsessed with the finish line, Song for the Mute and adidas Running return to the very beginning. This SS26 collaboration finds beauty in the quiet, imperfect moments before the stride starts.

By
Julien Roversi
Julien Roversi, a Paris-based fashion enthusiast, is an emerging voice in footwear & fashion journalism. After studying fashion communication and media at the London College of...
5 Min Read
5 Min Read
© Photo: adidas

When adidas Running and the Sydney-based label Song for the Mute announced their first-ever performance running collaboration, the sneaker world took notice. Not because of some flashy marketing stunt or a celebrity endorsement. It felt genuinely different. The collection, titled “The First Breath,” will be available globally on April 2, 2026, on adidas.com and at select adidas Running stores and premium retail partners worldwide. The centerpiece of the collection is the Supernova Rise 3.

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adidas Running x Song for the Mute reshapes performance with the Supernova Rise 3
© Photo: adidas

This is new territory for Song for the Mute. Founded in Sydney in 2010 by Lyna Ty and Melvin Tanaya, the label has built its reputation through introspective, design-driven lifestyle releases. Since collaborating with adidas in 2021, the label has steadily gained recognition in the sneaker world by bringing an avant-garde focus on texture and materials to a range of Three Stripes icons. The Supernova Rise 3 marks their first official step into performance running and showcases a label that knows when to push boundaries and when to exercise restraint.

The collection’s concept revolves around a specific idea: the first movement of the day. Not the finish line. Not a podium. Brand Director Melvin Tanaya explains that the project was never about competing with high-level athletics but rather about reframing performance as something instinctive, personal, and inclusive. This perspective is refreshing in a category often dominated by speed metrics and elite endorsements.

adidas Running x Song for the Mute reshapes performance with the Supernova Rise 3
© Photo: adidas

Visually, the shoe exudes calmness. Deep earth tones and antiqued neutrals define the color scheme. Hand-drawn midsole graphics add a personal, organic touch to the Supernova Rise 3. Meanwhile, a breathable PRIMEWEAVE upper and reengineered DREAMSTRIKE+ superfoam work together to support intentional movement. It is the hand-drawn detail that lingers. On a performance silhouette built for road use, that kind of mark-making feels almost defiant. It says, “Something human was here.”

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The rest of the SS26 apparel builds out the Adi365 system with tanks, tees, and shorts in men’s, women’s, and unisex fits. Chalk white, ivory, brown, coffee, and carbon keep the range cohesive. The lines on the panels, seams, and logos appear to be sketched rather than printed and are intentionally unfinished. According to Creative Director Lyna Ty, the collection aims to capture the imperfect energy and rawness of starting something new. It focuses on the in-between moments of movement rather than elite metrics.

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adidas Running x Song for the Mute reshapes performance with the Supernova Rise 3
© Photo: adidas

This philosophy is evident in the campaign imagery as well. Shot by the director-photographer duo Ethan and Tom under the direction of creative director Stephen Mann, the visuals sit somewhere between documentary and artistic direction. Breath before stride. A pause after effort. Subdued light with an almost archival quality. It’s a mood board for the early riser who runs not to win but to reset.

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Beyond the aesthetics, what makes this collection worth your attention is the direction it signals for the adidas Running partnership with Song for the Mute. This is not a brand capitalizing on hype. This is their eighth collection together since 2021, and the Supernova Rise 3 is their tenth and eleventh silhouette under the collaboration. The relationship has depth. Their decision to venture into performance territory rather than remain in the safer realm of lifestyle is their most confident move yet.

adidas Running x Song for the Mute reshapes performance with the Supernova Rise 3
© Photo: adidas
adidas Running x Song for the Mute reshapes performance with the Supernova Rise 3
© Photo: adidas
adidas Running x Song for the Mute reshapes performance with the Supernova Rise 3
© Photo: adidas
adidas Running x Song for the Mute reshapes performance with the Supernova Rise 3
© Photo: adidas

The collection will be available globally on April 2, 2026, on adidas.com and at select adidas Running stores and premium retail partners worldwide. The centerpiece is the Song for the Mute Supernova Rise 3, priced at €150.

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