A CARTOONISH subject with blue complexion dons an orange bucket hat with shorts to match. He dashes past while spinning a basketball on his left index finger, as a cup of taho hovers on his head. Meanwhile, three other vibrant-skinned characters, this time women, personify Manila culture in one frame, featuring street food, street art, and—again—basketball.
These are the designs produced by visual artist Jappy Agoncillo for the new City Shop “Manila
Hoops” Tee Collection of adidas Philippines. The muralist and illustrator is the latest Filipino artist tapped for the project, following street artists Quiccs and Egg Fiasco.
The “Manila Hoops” Collection honors the country’s love for basketball. It’s also part of adidas Philippines’s hyperlocal initiative, designed to celebrate and empower Filipino talents.
“[Collaborating with local artists] has been a proven formula for adidas Philippines,” JD Cortez, adidas Philippines brand communications and sports marketing manager, said in a recent interview. He added they are excited to be working with Agoncillo as the brand continues to highlight local artists on their global platform.
For his part, Agoncillo is no stranger to brand collaborations. His dynamic, comic book-inspired illustrations, which often feature elements of Filipino culture, have proven to be in demand for tie-ups with local and international brands. His murals can be found as well in streets, bars, restaurants and other establishments here and abroad.
Agoncillo said adidas Philippines granted him creative freedom for the “Manila Hoops” project. His only requirement: to create a design that speaks of Manila.
“I thought of the quintessential Manila experience that all Filipinos will be able to relate to,” the artist said, pointing to the ubiquity of basketball and street food across the country. “Whether or not you play basketball, you know someone who does. Also, street food—those are things that all of us have experienced. You can’t escape it. It’s everywhere.”
Thus shown in Agoncillo’s designs are elements of Filipino casual cuisine, such as taho, isaw, Betamax and kwek-kwek. He also incorporated key landmarks such as the Manila City Skyline, iconic City Hall, and Roxas Boulevard.
In terms of execution, Agoncillo strived for a modern and futuristic look but still grounded on his retro style.
“You know how 1990s retro is back? That’s because everyone’s starting to realize it’s very timeless; it’s the classics of our era,” he said. “I wanted the shirts to feel classic, that 20 years, 30 years from now, if someone puts it on, it will still look new. I wanted the designs to never look old.”
The adidas City Shop x Jappy Agoncillo “Manila Hoops” Collection men’s design comes in black, dark blue, and red colorways, while the women’s design is available in white and black. Retailing for P1,550 a piece, the new tee collection was launched last week and is available at adidas Brand Center Glorietta, the brand’s largest store in the country, which opened last year.
“The essence of the City Shop is to be able to showcase local creations exclusive to the Filipino market, whether they’re Philippine-themed products or products made by local creators,” Cortez said. “If you have balikbayans or foreign guests, they can come to the City Shop and get something exclusive and limited like the ‘Manila Hoops’ tee collection.”
Cortez added that adidas is open to expanding its scope of collaboration beyond visual artists and themes outside of basketball.
“As a creator brand, it’s really for signs of the times,” he said. “Whatever the consumer dictates, whether it be pop culture, crypto, all that, that’s something that would always be an open discussion with adidas.”