When it comes to capturing the culture of sneakers, few do it with the quiet precision and obsessive eye of Andy Dutton, better known online as Ad_Sneaks. What started as a personal fascination with footwear has grown into a visual archive that blends style, storytelling, and an instinct for the small details that make a sneaker more than just a product. Whether he’s shooting in the streets or curating his latest on-foot shots, Andy’s work sits at the intersection of community and creativity, an approach that’s earned him a loyal following and collaborations with some of the biggest names in the game. In this conversation, we go beyond the Instagram grid to talk about his recent trip to Puerto Rico with Adidas, Bad Bunny and Mercedes Petronas and what went down…
The Puerto Rico trip was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, the energy and hospitality of the Adidas team were off the charts. There was an unreleased Adidas x Bad Bunny Adizero SL72 “Neapolitan” on the bed as I arrived so I had to shoot them straight away. What a start to the trip! Everyone was so welcoming, and it was amazing to meet people from their marketing and design departments, including the head designer for Bad Bunny’s footwear projects. Spending time with the team gave me a unique perspective on how much thought and personal connection goes into each design.
One of the first highlights was the Formula One demonstration. The organisers had set up a short course with a straightaway, a bridge, and a few cones for tight manoeuvres and donuts. The dedication from the fans was incredible, people were lining up the night before, some even helping sweep the road in the downpour to make sure the demo could go on safely. When the cars finally took to the track, the excitement was palpable. Everyone was on their feet, cheering, and completely immersed in the moment. What made it even cooler was knowing that it was the first and only time a Formula One car had ever been on the island of Puerto Rico. As part of the trip, Adidas and Bad Bunny gave us official Mercedes-AMG F1 team jerseys, the kind worn by crew members in the pits. Wearing them makes the experience feel even more immersive and special.
Following this we had a brand dinner. I sat with a member of the Adidas x Bad Bunny design team and the insights we got on the trip were incredible. I spent a lot of time talking with the team about some of the shoes I’d bought over the years, like the SL-72 mashup. What blew me away was how hands-on the process was. Instead of relying on digital mockups, the team worked with a paper catalog of every Adidas model, tearing out pieces to create a physical mood board of ideas. The head designer then literally ripped the upper half of the SL-72 and the lower half of an Adi Zero, taped them together, and sent it to sample. That simple, almost tactile method became the prototype we saw, a perfect example of how creativity grounded in history and experimentation.
The trip also included behind-the-scenes access to the Adidas x Bad Bunny The Archive exhibit, a limited-time experience exclusively at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. On display were 150 pairs of Bad Bunny x adidas footwear, most of which were unreleased samples. Bad Bunny’s first signature shoe, the adidas BadBo, was previewed through a peephole and behind frosted glass. We also got to spot some of the more subtle Easter eggs in the designs, like city-pack exclusives with hidden details representing Puerto Rico. Seeing these little touches firsthand was fascinating, offering a real sense of the intentional storytelling embedded in each release. The combination of sneaker culture, and live panels made the trip feel like a full-circle immersion into the Bad Bunny world.
The performance at the end of the trip was another unforgettable highlight. Bad Bunny knows exactly how to command a crowd, and even with minimal Spanish, you could feel the intensity of his connection to Puerto Rico and his fans. The love and respect the audience had for him were tangible, and at one point, he paused mid-set, clearly emotional, holding back tears as he expressed his gratitude and pride for being able to perform in his home country. The energy in the venue was electric, and it was impossible not to get swept up in the moment, it was a genuine celebration of culture and his community.
Overall, the Puerto Rico trip was a blend of adrenaline, culture, and creativity. From the adrenaline of F1 demonstrations to the intimate design discussions and the high-energy performance, every moment was carefully curated yet surprisingly personal. It was a reminder of how much thought, passion, and storytelling go into the intersection of music, sports, and footwear culture, and how incredible it is to witness it all firsthand.