Pokémon turns 30 in adidas style
Pokémon has spent 2026 celebrating its 30th anniversary, and one of the biggest fashion collaborations of the year has now arrived.
adidas has launched a wide Pokémon collection covering footwear and clothing, including a substantial selection specifically for children. Rather than creating one special-edition shoe and stopping there, the collaboration stretches across Superstar trainers, tracksuits, loose-fit clothing and other adidas Originals pieces.
The kids’ trainers are the big attraction
The Superstar is already one of adidas’ most recognisable shoes, which makes it a sensible base for a character collaboration. The children’s collection includes Pokémon Superstar II styles as well as easier-on Quickon and elastic-lace versions.
That last part matters for parents. A brilliant-looking collaboration is considerably less useful when a younger child cannot get the shoes on without help, so seeing character footwear offered in child-friendly closures makes the range much more practical.
It goes beyond Pikachu
The wider collection celebrates the Pokémon world rather than treating the collaboration as another opportunity to put a Pikachu face on a T-shirt. Footwear and apparel use franchise characters and graphics while keeping the familiar adidas sportswear identity.
That should also broaden the age appeal. Younger children can enjoy the obvious Pokémon connection, while older kids and teens who are still fans can wear pieces that look closer to conventional streetwear.
Why this one matters
Character fashion for children has changed considerably. Licensed clothing used to sit in a separate world from trainer and streetwear culture; collaborations like this increasingly bring the two together.
For Pokémon-loving children, that means they no longer have to choose between “Pokémon clothes” and the trainers their friends are wearing. They can have both in the same outfit.
