In Fall/Winter 2023, adidas Originals unveiled a global brand platform that paid homage to its iconic Trefoil logo and celebrated the timeless evolution of the Superstar, Gazelle, and Samba sneakers. Jeph and Hunter crafted the campaign—“We Gave the World an Original. You Gave Us a Thousand Back.”—to honor the cultural journeys of these silhouettes from their athletic origins to their revered status in fashion and street culture.
The campaign featured a trilogy of films, each directed by a visionary filmmaker:
Superstar: Directed by Daniel Wolfe, this film chronicled the Superstar’s transformation from a basketball essential to a hip-hop icon, highlighting moments like its embrace by Run-DMC.
Gazelle: Directed by Will Dohrn, this narrative traced the Gazelle’s journey from a training shoe to a skateboarding favorite, featuring pro-skaters Mike Arnold and Miles Silvas.
Samba: Directed by Justyna Obasi, this piece celebrated the Samba’s roots in soccer and its seamless integration into various cultural scenes.
In the body of each, a synchronized moment in time where the trio’s paths cross:
Complementing the films, a series of triptych stills captured by Chadwick Tyler showcased the widespread influence and adoption of these silhouettes across different generations and cultures.
Markets around the world leaned into notable figures in their communities such as David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Jenna Ortega, and Stormzy, growing the thousand.
This campaign garnered significant acclaim within the advertising and design communities, earning several prestigious awards:
2024 Cannes Lions
Bronze – Classic: Film Lions: Online Film – adidas Originals Superstar
2024 D&AD
Wood Pencil – Cinematography – adidas Originals Superstar
Wood Pencil – Cinematography – adidas Originals Gazelle
2024 One Show
Silver – Editing – adidas Originals Superstar
Silver – Cinematography – adidas Originals Superstar
Bronze – Editing – adidas Originals We Gave The World
Bronze – Direction – adidas Originals Superstar
2024 Clio Awards
Silver – Film Craft - Cinematography – adidas Originals We Gave The World
Sliver – Film Craft – Film craft - Direction – adidas Originals We Gave The World
Bronze – Film Craft – Film craft - Prod Design – adidas Originals We Gave The World
2023 Ciclope Awards
Gold – Editing – adidas Originals Superstar
Gold – Direction – adidas Originals Superstar
Silver – Cinematography – adidas Originals Superstar
Gold – Editing – adidas Originals Gazelle
Silver – Cinematography – adidas Originals Gazelle
Silver – Styling + Costume Design – adidas Originals Gazelle
Bronze – Direction – adidas Originals Gazelle
2023 Clio Sports Awards
Gold - Film – adidas Originals Superstar
Bronze - Film – adidas Originals Samba
Bronze - Film – adidas Originals Gazelle
Silver - Film Craft - Sound Design – adidas Originals Superstar
Silver - Film Craft - Sound Design – adidas Originals Gazelle
Silver - Film Craft - Sound Design – adidas Originals Samba
Silver - Film Craft - Direction – adidas Originals Superstar
Silver - Film Craft - Direction – adidas Originals Gazelle
Bronze - Film Craft - Direction – adidas Originals Samba
This campaign not only celebrated adidas Originals’ rich heritage but also reinforced its relevance in contemporary culture, showcasing the seamless blend of sport and style that defines the brand.