Balletcore Gets a Bold Upgrade in Taqwa Bint Ali’s adidas Originals Collection

we caught up with the creative director to learn more

Balletcore doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. The latest to hop on the hyper-feminine trend is adidas Originals, who partnered with Taqwa Bint Ali on a collection of ethereal footwear that combines the dramatic elements of a ballet slipper—satin ribbons and criss-cross lace—with the chunky silhouette of a sneaker. “The collaboration with adidas Originals felt natural,” The Tunisian-French creative director told MILLE, speaking of her new collaboration with the sportswear giant. And looking at her journey, you can see why. Bint Ali started working with adidas three years ago, consulting on styling and running workshops at their HQ. Back then, she made it clear she wanted to do more than just consult—she wanted to design. “I expressed my desire to one day bring my vision to life through design, whether it be clothing or shoes,” she recalls. Fast-forward to now, and her vision is finally here: a global collaboration with two standout pairs of footwear.

The influence of ballet on this collection is clear from the get-go. “Ballet symbolizes grace, discipline, and strength,” she explains. And you can see that influence everywhere—from the satin laces on the Adistar sneakers, which mimic the wraparound ribbons of ballet shoes, to the soft yet structured aesthetic of the designs. Even the campaign imagery leans into this theme, celebrating femininity, sisterhood, and the beauty of tapping into your inner child. “Interestingly, 90% of the people involved, whether internally at adidas or during the campaign shoot, were women,” she says.

Taqwa bint Ali x adidas Originals. Image supplied

Of course, bringing something like this to life wasn’t without its challenges. Designing shoes takes time—years, in fact—and fashion moves fast. “I worried that what I had envisioned three years ago would no longer feel relevant when the collection was finally launched,” Bint Ali admits. To keep things fresh, she made some last-minute tweaks, ensuring the designs felt as current and exciting as the day she first imagined them.

One of the coolest aspects of this collaboration was the focus on representation, especially bringing more Muslim and hijabi women into the mix, not just as models but as leaders in the creative process. The creative director, who splits her time between Dubai and Paris, is passionate about this. “What excites me about this collaboration is how many Muslim and hijabi women played pivotal roles in bringing the campaign to life,” she muses. As a Muslim woman in the fashion industry (and the first hijabi woman to produce a global collection with adidas,) she’s acutely aware of how much work still needs to be done to create real, meaningful inclusion. “Representation is not just about visibility; it’s about taking action and leading projects behind the scenes,” she says.

Taqwa Bint Ali x adidas Originals. Image supplied

Now let’s go back to the shoes themselves. The Adistar sneakers are sleek but make a statement. The satin laces are a standout feature, wrapping around the shoe like a nod to ballet ribbons, and the muted gray tones give them a versatility that works for just about any outfit. They’re the kind of sneakers that are as comfortable pounding the pavement as they are dressing up a minimalist look. The Megaride Mary-Jane, on the other hand, leans into practicality with lightweight, breathable materials that don’t skimp on style. “The materials are performance-driven yet sleek,” Bint Ali says, summing them up perfectly. Both pairs carry the collection’s ballet inspiration without feeling overly literal—they’re thoughtful, wearable, and made to move.

 

Also Read: Private: Taqwa Bintali is Defying the Stereotype Surrounding Muslim Women in France

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