Denim Tears has officially unveiled its first collaboration with Adidas Originals, bringing the familiar Ghana Must Go bag pattern to two of the Three Stripes’ most recognizable sneakers. The Denim Tears x Adidas Originals “Ghana Must Go” collection reworks the Superstar and Stan Smith with a woven plaid treatment inspired by the iconic market bag, drawing on a cultural reference deeply connected to African and diasporic history.
Designed by Tremaine Emory, the collaboration follows weeks of speculation and introduces a partnership built around shared visual language and cultural storytelling. Alongside the distinctive footwear treatment, both sneakers feature a Sankofa symbol, reinforcing the historical references behind the project. Rather than simply borrowing a recognizable pattern, Emory uses the collaboration to bring attention to the stories and cultural exchanges associated with an everyday object found across markets, streets, and households.
The Superstar and Stan Smith Get a Ghana Must Go Makeover
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The debut collection features two Adidas Originals silhouettes: the Superstar and Stan Smith. Both arrive with uppers covered in a woven plaid pattern combining black, blue, red, and cream, closely resembling the design of the Ghana Must Go bag.
The familiar details of each silhouette remain intact, with the Superstar retaining its signature shell toe and both pairs finished with cream-colored soles. Co-branded detailing appears on the tongues, accompanied by a Sankofa symbol positioned just beneath it.
For Emory, the pattern has a particular connection to New York. Its presence around Canal Street, where street vendors display and sell the recognizable bags alongside clothing and accessories, helped inspire the direction of the project. The designer also noted that the pattern had not previously appeared in Denim Tears clothing, making the Adidas Originals partnership an opportunity to introduce it through footwear.
Tremaine Emory Revisits the History of the Ghana Must Go Bag
The Denim Tears x Adidas Originals “Ghana Must Go” collaboration carries a historical reference that extends past its recognizable plaid. Although the bags are widely used across different communities, their name is tied to Nigeria’s 1983 expulsion of undocumented Ghanaian immigrants, many of whom relied on the inexpensive plastic bags to transport their belongings when leaving the country.
The pattern itself has a more complex history, connecting African and Asian cultural influences. As Emory explained, it originated in Africa before becoming widespread through its use in Hong Kong architecture, particularly scaffolding. It was later popularized on carry bags through the work of a Chinese tailor, eventually becoming associated with the familiar market bags.
Speaking about the inspiration, Emory described the pattern as a cultural motif of the diaspora, pointing to the often-overlooked connections between African and Asian history and its eventual appearance on Canal Street.
The designer’s decision to bring the pattern to Adidas also reflects Denim Tears’ broader approach to cultural references. Since establishing the label, Emory has consistently explored Black history, identity, and the ways cultural symbols travel across generations and geographical boundaries.
A Sankofa Symbol Completes the Cultural References
Besides the plaid uppers, the sneakers feature another significant reference in the form of the Sankofa symbol. Originating from the Akan people of Ghana, the symbol communicates the importance of looking back to retrieve knowledge and experiences that may have been forgotten.
Emory connected its inclusion to the work of Black metalsmiths, including freed slaves, who incorporated Sankofa imagery into gates across the eastern United States and the Caribbean. For him, it represents another example of African cultural motifs finding their way into different parts of the world.
The combination of the Ghana Must Go pattern and Sankofa imagery gives the collection two distinct but connected historical references. Both speak to the movement of cultural expressions between Africa and the diaspora, a subject that has remained central to Emory’s creative work.
Denim Tears and Adidas Originals Debut the Collection on Canal Street
To introduce the collaboration, Denim Tears and Adidas Originals returned to Canal Street, the New York location that helped inspire the project. Campaign imagery features the Superstar and Stan Smith in the same street-market environment where Emory first encountered the bags as a child.
The presentation also extends to a nearby corner building, which has been completely covered in the collection’s signature plaid. The installation reflects Emory’s approach to Denim Tears as more than a clothing label, positioning its releases within a wider artistic practice that incorporates public spaces, architecture, and cultural storytelling.
The Denim Tears x Adidas Originals “Ghana Must Go” sneakers mark the beginning of the partnership between the two brands. Emory has described the relationship as symbiotic, highlighting their shared interest in visual codes, cultural references, and creative perspectives.
Both the Superstar and Stan Smith became available at Denim Tears’ African Diaspora Goods flagship at 176 Spring Street in New York on November 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. EST. A wider release date has yet to be announced.
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