Brain Dead and Adidas Are Releasing Actual Bowling Shoes Today

Brain Dead and Adidas are collaborating on a bowling shoe, and its no mere appropriation of the aesthetic.

The Brain Dead x Adidas Bowling shoe comes in two variants tailored to a bowlers dominant hand. The “Righty” black and white colorway features a slick leather sole on its left foot and a rubber sole with traction and a leather tip on the right. This arrangement is then flipped for the “Lefty” pair in white and black. Should you decide to use the Bowling shoe for regular wear rather than its intended sport, Brain Dead suggests you either have the shoe resoled or scuff the leather so it’s not too slick.

The Bowling shoe retains familiar DNA from some of Adidas’ classic sneakers with its simple leather upper featuring serrated stripes and a mustache in contrasting colors. The two tone-look continues with the tongue that sees a an inlay continue across the length of the toe to the sole. Although relatively obscure, you can find vintage Adidas bowling shoes with the same construction on platforms such as eBay.

A special “Adidas Bowling” logo is debossed in gold beneath the collar on the right shoe, while the left swaps “Bowling” for “Brain Dead.” Brain Dead’s head logo is printed onto the left insole and simplified for debossing on both mustaches, while the brand’s name appears on the lace tips.

The Brain Dead x Adidas Bowling “Righty” and “Lefty” shoes release at 1 p.m. EST Tuesday, June 11, through a raffle running for 24 hours on Brain Dead’s website. The shoes will also be available in person at Brain Dead’s Los Angeles store, as well as Dover Street Market’s locations in Los Angeles, New York City and London. Pricing has not yet been announced.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.