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Bob Marley was best known for his music, but did you know he was also a massive fan of soccer?
The late reggae superstar was a huge fan of the sport, and it played a major part in his life till his death in 1981. Marley would play soccer, or football to Jamaicans, in parking lots, fields and even inside recording studios to pass the time between crafting hit tracks. Marley closely followed Brazilian club Santos and its star player Pelé growing up, and was also a supporter of English football club Tottenham Hotspur and Argentine midfielder Ossie Ardiles.
Marley famously declared “Football is freedom” during an interview on French television. He described football as a “whole universe to itself,” given the sport often takes time and patience to master, according to an article published by The Football Times. The sport was just as ingrained in Marley’s identity as his music was, something that Adidas is here to honor.
The retailer just dropped an eight-piece collection featuring apparel and accessories inspired by the musician and his “Freedom is Football” slogan. The collection is for fans of Marley’s music and football alike, featuring stylish athleticwear and an updated version of Adidas’ ever-popular Gazelle shoe. The collection launched today, Feb. 6, and is available to shop right now on Adidas’ website. Below, we’ve shared a few of our favorites from the eight-piece capsule. We’ll run through the designs and even offer a few styling tips.
Gazelle Jamaica x Bob Marley Shoes
The Gazelle is a popular style for Adidas, becoming synonymous with the brand. This Bob Marley style is yellow and green with hints of red throughout.
The Gazelle has become an extremely popular shoe silhouette for Adidas, and while we didn’t think it could have gotten any better, this exclusive Bob Marley style proved us wrong. Retailing for $110, the low-top silhouette has been upgraded to include textural suede uppers in yellow, accompanied by Adidas’ signature three-striped detailing on the sides in green.
The tongues are sculpted for definition, while the insoles are a bright red to contrast the yellow and green. The laces are simple white cotton. For those with a sharp eye, you’ll be able to spot a tiny motif of Marley on the heel of each shoe. For $110, this is a statement-making shoe with tons of personality. We’d pair these with neutral basics like baggy jeans and a graphic tee to let the shoes shine.
Bob Marley Originals Jersey
This football jersey features the words “Football is Freedom” on the front, along with Adidas’ iconic Trefoil logo and Bob Marley’s name in cursive. The color is reminiscent of the Jamaican flag.
This Marley-inspired jersey comes in yellow and green, reminiscent of the Jamaican flag. The jersey features a slightly oversized fit and is emblazoned with the words “Football is Freedom,” a slogan of Marley’s mentioned above. You’ve also got Adidas’ iconic Trefoil logo and Bob Marley’s name in cursive on the front. The neckline is a subtle V-shape with a collar. While you could wear this out to play a quick pickup game for a casual look, this jersey would also look great styled up with slacks and sneakers or denim jorts and loafers.
Bob Marley Originals Shorts
Comfortable and full of style, these shorts come in red with a printed finish and contrasting white details. Sizing is available from XS to 3XL.
You can’t go wrong with comfortable sporty shorts. These from Adidas’ Marley collection are bright red with white detailing for contrast. Adidas’ instantly recognizable striping can be seen running down the length of the shorts vertically, while the hem is decorated with “Bob” in cursive and Adidas’ Trefoil logo. The waist is elasticized and features a drawstring closure to keep your shorts in place. We’d wear these alongside a jersey, like the ones featured in this collection, or a band tee, cleats and a track jacket if you’re looking to dress for a quick game of soccer.
Bob Marley Originals T-Shirt
This striped tee is extremely bold in shades of yellow, green and red with black and white accents. Sizing ranges from small to 2XL.
This tee is one of the boldest offerings in this collection, and it’s selling out fast. The slightly oversized t-shirt features red, yellow and green striping on the body with black colorblocked neckline and sleeves. White striping can be seen running down the short sleeves vertically. The chest is emblazoned with “Bob” in cursive and Adidas’ Trefoil logo. Since this piece is extremely bold, we’d wear it with more subdued pieces like white sneakers and black athletic shorts to play on the black in the neckline. Small, large, XL and 2XL are all that’s left as far as sizing goes, so you’ll want to act fast if you want to get your hands on this piece.
Bob Marley Bag
This chocolate brown bag features a retro design and a Bob Marley icon on the top left. The bag is made of faux leather and features a zipper closure.
The Bob Marley Bag has to be one of our favorites in the collection, so we’ve saved the best for last. This faux-leather bag comes in a rich chocolate brown with cream accents, including the Adidas logo and a tiny motif of Marley on the top left corner. The rectangular style is meant to emulate retro silhouettes from years past, what with the chunky Adidas lettering and striping on the front. While this could be used as a duffle bag for matches, we’d like to think people could use this as an everyday item since it’s big enough to store the essentials and even some heavier items like books or an iPad.
