adidas Spotlights Black Trailblazers Steering Culture, Style and Change
Honoring Black Excellence returns with a powerful experience exploring the weight of “past, present and possibility.”
Tucked along the Alabama River, you’ll find Boykin, home to a crew of legendary artisans stitching generational stories and traditions into intricate textile marvels. Called the Gee’s Bend Quiltmakers, these women are the hands behind the works that sit at the heart of American art history. In February, the group were the first honorees of adidas‘ Honoring Black Excellence (HBE) initiative, bringing their bold, geometric designs to a limited-edition NCAA jersey collection for the occasion.
On June 24, the full Capstone celebration arrives in Atlanta with the HBE experience, curated by artistic duo Rog & Bee Walker, spotlighting agents of change, like the women of Gee’s Bend, and the indelible marks they’ve made within their own communities, creative lanes and beyond. The 2025 iteration visualizes the individual impacts of these cultural architects into a bold narrative tapestry embodying the innovation, resilience and collective brilliance of Black excellence.
The experience presents a range of film, photography, archival artifacts and live performances centered around the theme “Pathways & Pipelines.” “With this experience, we wanted to create something that doesn’t just honor Black excellence — it embodies it. These stories aren’t told through a distant lens; they’re lived, felt and remembered,” the Walker’s expressed. “We hope it invites people to witness, reflect and ultimately feel connected to something greater than themselves.”
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Since its inception in 2019, the program has been steadfast in amplifying the visions of Black luminaries through community engagement, philanthropic initiatives and direct investment in community-based institutions. This year’s edition, centered around the theme “Pathways & Pipelines,” will also honor Sekou Thornell, the founder of streetwear label Kitboys Club and Jaycina Almond, the mind behind Tender, a grassroots foundation rewriting narratives around single motherhood.
In song with the Capstone, adidas and Rog & Bee are debuting Hero Film — a short-form, cinematic love letter, gathering each honoree’s story into an iridescent portrait of resilience, creativity and the future ahead.
Head to the HBE page to learn more about this year’s program
