Milwaukee-based philanthropist and CLICKS and SNEEX founder Eric “Shake” James is continuing his relationship with adidas Originals, moving from the Forum Low and Adistar Control 5 into one of the brand’s chunkier contemporary silhouettes. For the next chapter, Shake turns his attention to the Adistar XLG 2.0, creating a two-pair “Wild Rivals” pack inspired by two of Africa’s most striking animals: the mandrill monkey and the African rock python.
The XLG 2.0 gives the Milwaukee creative a very different canvas. Its exaggerated proportions and layered construction lend themselves to the collection’s central idea, which looks at size, survival and dominance through the behavior of animals in the wild. The Adistar XLG 2.0 itself draws from the bold running silhouettes of the 2000s, reworking those proportions for contemporary streetwear with a mesh base, moulded RPU cage, reflective details and Adiprene cushioning in the heel.
The Mandrill Gets Loud
The first pair takes its inspiration from the mandrill, one of Africa’s most visually distinctive primates. Its appearance becomes the starting point for a vivid combination of blue, red and textured materials.
A blue gradient mesh upper provides the foundation, shiftijg through tones across the sneaker and creating an almost electric effect. Over the top, red shaggy suede overlays add a completely different texture, referencing the mandrill’s famously bright red and blue facial colouring as well as the red tones found around its hindquarters.
The Python Brings a Different Kind of Threat
The second Adistar XLG 2.0 takes a much darker approach, drawing from the African rock python, one of the largest snake species in the world. Where the mandrill relies on colour and fuzzy texture, the python version is all about pattern, the python is all about pattern, repetition and transparency.
Its upper features yellow and black snakeskin pattern, giving the sneaker an immediate connection to the reptile without relying on an obvious graphic. The pattern runs across the mesh, transforming the technical base into something that feels closer to the animal’s natural scales.
Clear overlays around the toe box and heel add another important reference. These transparent sections represent the way a snake sheds its skin, adding a slightly futuristic element to the otherwise earthy design.
The Story That Continues Beyond the Sneakers
The “Wild Rivals” idea does not stop with the footwear. Each pair comes with a collectible field card containing information about its respective animal, including details surrounding habitat, diet, behavior and its role within the ecosystem.
The Shake x adidas Adistar XLG 2.0 “Wild Rivals” pack is expected to release during the Holiday 2026.
photo credits: Modern Notoriety
Shake x adidas Go Wild With the Adistar XLG 2.0 “Wild Rivals”
