Greatness comes from the exploration of the unknown and the desire to push boundaries — all without the promise of outcome. Aren’t the most meaningful achievements in life the ones that were never guaranteed? In the current world of instant gratification and overnight deliveries where sneaker collecting has been frighteningly abbreviated to a mere mouse-click or tap of a screen, the artfulness of sneaker culture can only be found among those who are willing to put in the extra effort, because it truly is about the journey and not the destination.
Throughout the month of September, Bad Bunny and adidas Originals have been putting passion to the test through a series of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it teasers on social media and traditional advertising in local newspapers. Pay close attention, obsess just a bit more than everyone else, and your devotion won’t go by unrecognized. Those who responded to the black-and-white Wanted ads on Puerto Rico’s Primera Hora newspaper were privy to information regarding a special pop-up at a local cowboy gear shop. Turns out, the latest Response CL by Benito and the stripes were given to a very select few who showed up.
On September 28th, Bad Bunny himself dropped two quick teasers on his Instagram Stories, deleting them in seconds. GPS coordinates pointed to a location on Arden House Rd. in Harriman, NY, a town an hour north of New York City. Most importantly, Benito specified a time and date, and his fans who were shrewd enough to do a little digging would have found the Arden House, a historic estate owned by railroad magnate Edward Henry Harriman. These ambitious vaqueros were rewarded on the morning of September 30th with an immersive experience inside the horse stables with a very exclusive gift at the end.
On September 29th, adidas Originals invited Sneaker News to go on this unseen journey first-hand. Providing vague details of the day’s eventsand a time and place, adidas shuttled us and a select group to The Arden House, allowing us to immerse ourselves vaquero spirit by dressing up as cowboys, feeding and brushing horses, and enjoying a farm-to-table dinner by Blue Hill at Stone Farms. There was a lot more planned, but the area was hit with torrential downpours (you’ve seen the videos on social media).
With the Puerto Rican superstar’s sneakers as immensely popular as they are, adidas can effortlessly release the “Paso Fino” shoes via the standard Confirmed App procedure (which they will in the coming weeks). The purpose of the “See The Unseen”, catered to a very small group of consumers, was simply to reward the baddest of Bad Bunny fans that possess the rogue attitude of the vaquero — a spirit that Bad Bunny himself has grown attached to in recent months. A short film by adidas Originals and Benito (teased on the morning of September 30th) further reflects his growing passion as well as his affinity for spaghetti westerns; his brother Bernie makes a cameo appearance at the end.
The adidas Response CL “El Paso Fino” by Bad Bunny and adidas Originals will release again in the coming weeks.