{"id":828705,"date":"2025-04-21T15:11:29","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T19:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/?p=828705"},"modified":"2025-04-21T18:11:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T22:11:35","slug":"how-adidas-matched-james-hardens-one-of-a-kind-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slamonline.com\/kicks\/how-adidas-matched-james-hardens-one-of-a-kind-style\/","title":{"rendered":"How Adidas Matched James Harden\u2019s One Of A Kind Style\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The best signature shoes personify the player. They\u2019re an extension of the style and vibe that their namesake stands for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to James Harden, his Adidas signature series might be the best expression of that approach in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight when you see it, it\u2019s like, \u2018Oh wow, what\u2019s that<\/em>?\u2019 And then you know: \u2018That\u2019s the Harden. That\u2019s a Volume,<\/em>‘\u201d Harden proudly says. \u201cWe got our own style and our own swag.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ever since Harden first landed his landmark 13-year signature deal with Adidas in 2015, the idea was to create chapters and volumes of signature sneakers that’d bridge the on-court with the off-court as the series evolved. They\u2019re now on the ninth edition \u2014 officially dubbed the Harden Vol. 9 \u2014 with the series shifting over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Harden Vol. 9 in Cyber Metallic. (Photo by Jeff Haynes\/NBAE via Getty Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The debut Vol. 1 was fresh out the gate, with its slanted leather or suede toe cap and distinctive look. The models thereafter were admittedly up and down at times. When designer Jalal Enayah took over the reigns back in 2019, both he and Harden looked to refresh the line as they worked together on the 7 and beyond. They wanted to map out a new way for the designer-plus-athlete model to work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018I can answer all the same questions over and over again, but that\u2019s not going to let you know who I am,\u2019\u201d recalled Enayah. \u201cHe was all about, \u2018If you want to know who I really am, come spend time with me and my friends.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cCome hang out with me, see who I am, and what I like,\u201d Harden remembers telling the designer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The product since the Vol. 7 has infused an elevated style that fits James\u2019 world, beyond the court. The design team tries to pick up on the aura of the cars he drives, the things he buys and the places he visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, Harden wears a duo of matching diamond chains almost at all times, both featuring an iced pendant reading “UNO.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nod to his current jersey number has become a nickname amongst his close friends, but the acronym also stands for his confident mantra: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under No One <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe shoes really stand for our personality as a brand \u2014 which is to be confident,\u201d adds Enayah. \u201cWe want to be confident in who we are and uniquely us. James is the catalyst for that. We didn\u2019t want to make product that looked scared or safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Board of Directors member and equity partner in Saks, Harden\u2019s orbit is endlessly high end. Whether that\u2019s being laced in Louis, toting Bottega bags or putting it on in all Prada, there\u2019s an access and taste level that Harden has become accustomed to, that\u2019s now also making its way into his Adidas product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe work with James like he\u2019s a creative, rather just a muse,\u201d described the designer. Everything from the silhouette to the mostly two-tone color palette has to fit Harden\u2019s vibe around the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Designer Jalal Enayah and James Harden.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When Harden was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of last season, the process became that much easier. The LA native welcomed the nearby DTLA-based Adidas team into all facets of his life, wherever and whenever that may be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve talked to him about shoes in the club,\u201d jokes Enayah. \u201cI\u2019ve pulled up on him on one of his vacations. Post game in the tunnels, we\u2019ve had some really great meetings too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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With less scheduled meeting structure and slotted agenda times comes more honest reaction and input, they all agreed. Harden also likes hearing his friends\u2019 feedback and reactions on the fly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enayah even remembers getting a text to show up to a LA lounge at 1 AM once. He grabbed some samples and was on his way.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI pulled up with a bag of shoes and begged them to let me in with them,\u201d he now laughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For as long as signature shoes have been the industry format for how a basketball star could showcase their footwear and brand partnerships, players have said they wanted their sneaker to \u201clook good on and off the court.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we all know, that\u2019s been a tricky premise at times, with some sneakers simply standing as equipment to hoop in, and others falling short of both goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n