You’ve likely seen the Brain Dead x adidas Taekwondo pop up on your feed. That’s no accident. This release marks the fifth collaboration this year between the LA label and Three Stripes – a pace that few collaborations can match without losing steam. Yet here they are, still sharp and surprising.
The Climacool 2 returns alongside it, resurrected from 2003 with silver cages, green heel stripes, and yellow stitching that scream, “Look again!” It’s loud. Intentionally so. It’s a shoe built to stop scrollers mid-swipe.
Then there’s the Taekwondo. No shouting here. Just clean black uppers, gum soles, and white accents. The quilted texture near the toe nods to soccer gear without forcing the reference. The co-branding is hidden under the collar, a detail that only you and your closest sneakerhead friends will spot. Subtlety isn’t weakness. Sometimes it’s a strategy.
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Retailers have listed this Brain Dead x adidas Taekwondo pair (SKU: JQ9303) for November 1, though Adidas has confirmed it and the official Three Stripes calendar hasn’t been updated yet. This isn’t unusual for collaborative releases, which sometimes follow different release schedules than general releases.
Brain Dead continues to prove why their partnership with adidas works. They understand the archive without treating it like a museum. They know when to push and when to pull back. The Taekwondo is refined, while the Climacool 2 is wild. This kind of editorial thinking is what separates good collaborations from the ones people actually remember.
Pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but expect these to fall within the standard collaborative range. Regardless of price point, Brain Dead releases tend to sell quickly. Their audience shows up.
Keep your eyes on official channels for the exact drop time. November 1st will be here before you know it.
