Sporty classics meet romantic aesthetics. Simone Rocha and adidas Originals present their Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, in which the Irish designer’s signature pearls, crystals and ballet-inspired elements feature on sports footwear and clothing. This is the latest instalment in a collaboration that brings together two distinct design languages, creating a collection that straddles the boundaries of fashion, sport and contemporary culture.
Simone Rocha, a London-based designer, has for years been developing her own fashion language based on romantic forms, historical inspirations and experiments with proportions. Her designs often combine delicacy with bold construction, whilst pearls, bows and three-dimensional embellishments have become recognisable elements of her aesthetic. The collaboration with adidas Originals allows these motifs to be translated into the world of sportswear and footwear.
Ballet-inspired trainers
In the Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, classic sports silhouettes take on a more decorative character. Ballet-inspired elements are particularly evident in the footwear designs, which combine the lightness of ballet shoes with the distinctive construction of sports models. Pearl embellishments and crystal accents soften the technical nature of the designs, lending them a jewellery-like quality.
The combination of sporty functionality with decorative elements is characteristic of Simone Rocha’s approach to design. The designer treats ornamentation as an integral part of the form, rather than merely an accessory. In the adidas Originals collection, this way of thinking meets the sports brand’s recognisable lines, creating designs that strike a balance between everyday footwear and a fashion statement.
A romantic take on sportswear
The collaboration isn’t limited to trainers. The collection also includes garments in which sporting influences meet Simone Rocha’s signature softness of form and decorative flair. The combination of classic wardrobe staples with pearls, crystals and subtle details offers a fresh perspective on sportswear aesthetics.
This is yet another example of the blurring of boundaries between sportswear and luxury design. The boundaries between everyday wear, sport and catwalk fashion are becoming increasingly blurred, whilst classic footwear and clothing styles are taking on new meanings thanks to collaborations with designers who have a distinctive aesthetic language.
Simone Rocha and adidas Originals – a meeting of two aesthetics
The juxtaposition of Simone Rocha’s world with adidas Originals is based on contrasts. On the one hand, there is sporty simplicity and functionality; on the other, romantic ornamentation and ballet-inspired elements. The common thread is experimentation with form and the reinterpretation of familiar wardrobe staples.
The Autumn/Winter 2026 collection demonstrates how a sporting heritage can serve as a starting point for a more decorative, personal approach to clothing. The result is a collection in which trainers and sportswear function not only as part of everyday attire, but also as part of the broader language of contemporary fashion.
Photography: Justine Kurland / adidas Originals
See also: Editorial | Jacket | Fashion | Collection
