Adidas’s New Drop Fuses Martial Arts Heritage With Modern Footwear Design

Debuting as part of a new collab with CLOT by Edison Chen, the Qi Flow fluidly blends past and present into one dynamic shoe.

Close-up of a black fabric shoe with knotted laces, a pearl detail, and woven jute sole stitching.

Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Hayley Helms

Published January 30, 2026

·

Updated January 30, 2026

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

The 2026 Chinese New Year, celebrating the Year of the Horse and its themes of vitality, strength and unbridled spirit, has already inspired numerous collections.

But so far, none have been quite as interesting as the upcoming capsule from Adidas and CLOT by Edison Chen.

Black slip-on shoe with white heel tab, jute-wrapped midsole, and gum rubber sole with circular tread pattern. — The striking aesthetic of the Qi Flow is meant to celebrate Chinese cultural heritage through modern materials.

A standout of the collection, the CLOT Qi Flow is an experimental shoe blending Eastern and Western philosophies.

Drawing on traditional craft and contemporary streetwear, the new shoe is unlike any Adidas before it.

Experimental stepping

The collaboration from Edison Chen’s influential streetwear brand and Adidas Originals celebrates Chinese cultural heritage through a curated capsule influenced by symbolism, craftsmanship and modern expression.

Pair of black slip-on sneakers with white collars, pearl accents on laces, and woven natural fiber soles on beige background. — Craftsmanship, performance sensibility and contemporary streetwear influences all come together in this slim shoe.

The CLOT Qi Flow exemplifies this effort, thanks to the Zodiac and kung fu influences Edison Chen references in its East-meets-West design.

Black fabric shoe with decorative knotted straps and a pearl detail on a woven sole. — The nylon upper, frog-button closures and pearl detail bridge tradition and modernity.

The slim sneaker evokes the elegance and discipline of kung fu through its refined construction, which includes a minimalist black nylon upper, satin collar, pearl and frog-button closures and a lightweight espadrille-inspired outsole.

Black and white Adidas espadrille shoes with jute-wrapped soles and a pearl detail on the laces. — The espadrille-inspired outsole brings together Eastern and Western elements.

The ‘Year of the Horse’ capsule includes a second pair of shoes: a luxury-minded remix of the Superstar Dress Shoe, which outfits one of Adidas’s most recognizable silhouettes in genuine cowhide printed with brown-and-white horse markings.

Two pairs of shoes stacked vertically, one pair is black with white accents and jute soles, the other pair has a brown and white cowhide pattern with wooden soles. — The partner to the Qi Flow is the CLOT Superstar Dress Shoe, a premium reinterpretation of an Originals icon.

A leather shell toe, cotton laces with gold lace tips, stitched 3-Stripes and leather tassels, in addition to a mixed leather-rubber sole, complete the new statement style.

Availability and pricing

The Adidas Originals x CLOT Chinese New Year Collection by Edison Chen releases tomorrow, January 31, at 10 a.m. on the brand’s official website and at select retailers.

As of this writing, the price for each shoe is unspecified.

Black and white espadrille sneaker with knotted laces and woven jute sole.

Adidas x CLOT Year of the Horse Qi Flow

Learn More

About the Author: Hayley Helms is an associate editor at Gear Patrol specializing in outdoor gear. Once upon a time, she wrote for Men’s Journal, Gearjunkie and Shape. Whether it’s testing a new rain shell or putting a pair of hiking boots through its paces, she leaves no stone unturned (however, she always Leaves No Trace).

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.