Puerto Ricans have no voting representation in DC. See, we’re only “Americans” when we abandon the Archipelago.
When the U.S. government (Congress) banned Calle 13 from all U.S. airwaves, including the colony of Puerto Rico, adidas signed the group and sponsored their tours for years.
Bad Bunny, who is connected to and mentored by Residente-Calle 13, is signed to adidas.
adidas arranged for Bad Bunny to become part of its Mercedes F1 team. adidas arranged a first ever F1 test run in Puerto Rico. adidas organized a full art gallery exhibition in Puerto Rico that ran simultaneously with the event. adidas was one of the sponsors of the Bad Bunny Puerto Rico residency. adidas has released BB Gazelle Puerto Rico exclusives as part of the BB awareness campaign.
I think people who truly know Bad Bunny are well aware of the brand relationship. adidas released a few ads to the socials leading up to the SB. The entire cast of the halftime show was in adidas. The interviewer in the pre show build up wore BB Gazelles.
I’m Puerto Rican, and I feel the love. I don’t need a major brand to ‘legitimize’ the anti-colonial movement. I need said brand to be there with the bag to help finance it. adidas helped generate over $300m to the local Puerto Rican economy at a time Democrats and Republicans could not be bothered to step in.
adidas has supported or now supports two artists who promote independence for Puerto Rico. Past pro Independence leaders were labeled terrorists by the U.S.
I’m free for questions about what I think of adidas Para Bad Bunny.
Thanks for all of the clarification here. I’m aware of most of these things. I wasn’t meaning to imply he in any way needs adidas. I think it’s just the opposite actually. I think in general adidas has done well with the partnership.
It just feels so weird to me to have a signature shoe release and see him wearing it in the performance, and not have any social posts for almost a week leading up to it. It feels like a missed connection that seems like a pretty easy one to make.
It seems like all footwear brands shy away from these “political” moments that aren’t actually political or controversial at all.
If I’m working on any product worn in the stage for a Super Bowl halftime show, I’m going all out to answer the “what are those” questions at every place someone might look. I don’t watch much football anymore, though, so maybe I’m missing something.
Gonna listen to some Calle 13 this week. I really appreciate the insights!
I totally get your point, Nick. It’s one well made. But I recall Calle 13 and adidas catching flak in the Latino community for capitalizing on the suffering with products many in that community cannot afford. Residente began very quietly wearing adidas gear, and adidas settled for building a stage with neon trefoils placed in various locations. Obvious promotion of the BadBo 1.0 while depicting the massive Blackouts/Brownouts across PR would be tone deaf and/or grotesque. The entire point of “Fight with the Love of Our People” and “We Only Want to Live” is just that. Live wearing what you’re wearing. Again, pretty much everyone wore BB adidas models.
Kidsuper, who is with PUMA, posted a reel of him with a friend who is wearing an adidas track jacket. They didn’t need a billboard to be in-tune with the branding.
adidas continued its Ant-man styled BadBo adverts just after the show. It’s not as satisfying as a clear middle finger, but where is the “Love is Stronger” message once the one finger salute is raised?
I want more at times. But can understand why the most satisfying approach is not always the most socially conscious approach.
Update: adidas posted… https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUh4YfXiJJI/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Another good one, Nick.
A few notes to consider.
Puerto Ricans have no voting representation in DC. See, we’re only “Americans” when we abandon the Archipelago.
When the U.S. government (Congress) banned Calle 13 from all U.S. airwaves, including the colony of Puerto Rico, adidas signed the group and sponsored their tours for years.
Bad Bunny, who is connected to and mentored by Residente-Calle 13, is signed to adidas.
adidas arranged for Bad Bunny to become part of its Mercedes F1 team. adidas arranged a first ever F1 test run in Puerto Rico. adidas organized a full art gallery exhibition in Puerto Rico that ran simultaneously with the event. adidas was one of the sponsors of the Bad Bunny Puerto Rico residency. adidas has released BB Gazelle Puerto Rico exclusives as part of the BB awareness campaign.
I think people who truly know Bad Bunny are well aware of the brand relationship. adidas released a few ads to the socials leading up to the SB. The entire cast of the halftime show was in adidas. The interviewer in the pre show build up wore BB Gazelles.
I’m Puerto Rican, and I feel the love. I don’t need a major brand to ‘legitimize’ the anti-colonial movement. I need said brand to be there with the bag to help finance it. adidas helped generate over $300m to the local Puerto Rican economy at a time Democrats and Republicans could not be bothered to step in.
adidas has supported or now supports two artists who promote independence for Puerto Rico. Past pro Independence leaders were labeled terrorists by the U.S.
I’m free for questions about what I think of adidas Para Bad Bunny.
Thanks for all of the clarification here. I’m aware of most of these things. I wasn’t meaning to imply he in any way needs adidas. I think it’s just the opposite actually. I think in general adidas has done well with the partnership.
It just feels so weird to me to have a signature shoe release and see him wearing it in the performance, and not have any social posts for almost a week leading up to it. It feels like a missed connection that seems like a pretty easy one to make.
It seems like all footwear brands shy away from these “political” moments that aren’t actually political or controversial at all.
If I’m working on any product worn in the stage for a Super Bowl halftime show, I’m going all out to answer the “what are those” questions at every place someone might look. I don’t watch much football anymore, though, so maybe I’m missing something.
Gonna listen to some Calle 13 this week. I really appreciate the insights!
I totally get your point, Nick. It’s one well made. But I recall Calle 13 and adidas catching flak in the Latino community for capitalizing on the suffering with products many in that community cannot afford. Residente began very quietly wearing adidas gear, and adidas settled for building a stage with neon trefoils placed in various locations. Obvious promotion of the BadBo 1.0 while depicting the massive Blackouts/Brownouts across PR would be tone deaf and/or grotesque. The entire point of “Fight with the Love of Our People” and “We Only Want to Live” is just that. Live wearing what you’re wearing. Again, pretty much everyone wore BB adidas models.
Kidsuper, who is with PUMA, posted a reel of him with a friend who is wearing an adidas track jacket. They didn’t need a billboard to be in-tune with the branding.
adidas continued its Ant-man styled BadBo adverts just after the show. It’s not as satisfying as a clear middle finger, but where is the “Love is Stronger” message once the one finger salute is raised?
I want more at times. But can understand why the most satisfying approach is not always the most socially conscious approach.
I dig this series, Nick.