‘Style Is a Reflection of Expression’: How Joey Bada$$ Bridges Music, Fashion & New York Culture Through adidas Originals x Avirex Collection

New York has always worn its attitude on its sleeve and on its sneakers. From the stoops of Brooklyn to the runways of SoHo, fashion in the city isn’t just about what you wear, it’s about what you represent. It’s identity, legacy and rebellion stitched together. That same spirit drives the new adidas Originals x Avirex collaboration, a reimagined Superstar that bridges heritage and the next generation of New York energy. And at the center of it all is Joey Bada$$, the Brooklyn-born rapper, actor, and cultural voice who’s spent his career embodying what it means to move with authenticity.

To New Yorkers, clothing is more than fabric, it’s communication. The city’s fashion language was built on individuality: from uptown sneaker culture to downtown leather jackets, each borough carved its own chapter into global style. Joey Bada$$, who’s nearly 15 years deep into his career, has lived that narrative in real time.

“I think it represents alignment, especially in the spirit of NYC,” he says of the collaboration. “Here’s three brands that represent New York City culture in its most original, authentic forms. It’s a pleasure to be here as a quintessential New York representative with two strong brands that represent the city and everything it stands for.”

Both adidas and Avirex carry deep New York legacies — sneakers on the streets, leather jackets in the clubs. Their new partnership brings that shared DNA to life through a capsule featuring a premium Superstar sneaker, a limited-edition leather jacket, and a tee. The Superstar’s enlarged proportions, folded tongue, and signature Avirex branding pay homage to craftsmanship and street heritage while reintroducing an icon for a new era.

For Joey, it’s about evolution and timelessness: “When you’re talking about timeless art, the potential for evolution is endless,” he says. “The first time I seen the adidas Superstar was on Run-D.M.C., and here we are in 2025, 40 years later, still rocking the Superstar. The longevity’s already been proven.”

Avirex, founded in 1975, has long been a staple of New York identity. Its leather jackets became a cultural symbol in the ’90s and 2000s — worn by legends like Biggie and Dipset — representing pride, toughness, and self-expression. The brand’s rebirth in 2019 reconnected it to that same ethos, with a focus on craftsmanship and authenticity.

“It’s telling the story of longevity again,” Joey says of the new collection. “adidas and Avirex have such a long track record — at this point, it spans decades. Here we are in 2025, and we’re continuing to push it even further. It doesn’t feel out of place at all. It actually feels pretty aligned with the moment, especially with JBA involved.”

That alignment is what makes the collaboration feel so New York. Avirex’s revival is grounded in the same cultural energy that shaped Joey — a mix of creativity, grit, and individuality that continues to define the city today.

Joey’s connection to fashion has always been personal. “I usually don’t like the word fashion, ’cause I believe fashion is something you go to the store and purchase,” he says. “Whereas style is something naturally embedded in you. It doesn’t take a designer brand or anything like that. Style is more so a reflection of expression.”

That reflection is visible across every part of his world — whether he’s on stage, in front of a camera, or walking through Brooklyn. “My stylistic expression is definitely a form of storytelling,” he adds. “Those stories vary day to day. How I’m feeling today, or how I’m feeling in this era of my life, that’s what shapes it.”

2025 has been a defining year for Joey Bada$$. In August, he dropped Lonely at the Top, a project rooted in reflection, growth, and self-awareness, featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Westside Gunn, A$AP Ferg and more. He also reprised his fan-favorite role as Unique in Power Book III: Raising Kanan and became a father alongside fiancée Serayah.

Still, it’s Joey’s voice within the culture, particularly his willingness to defend the East Coast’s legacy, that’s kept him front and center. His surprise release of “The Ruler’s Back” on New Year’s Day sparked a coast-to-coast lyrical showdown that dominated the year’s rap conversations. Through it all, Joey has stayed true to his roots.

“The city is just so embedded in who I am,” he says. “Even if you take New York City away from me, it’ll forever be in my DNA, in my bloodstream. From the tempo to the motivation and the grit you get from being here, it’s who I am.”

In both his music and his style, Joey represents the same principle: authenticity with evolution. On Lonely at the Top, he raps about growth and perspective, themes that parallel the way he approaches fashion. “Through music, we express how we feel, and through style, what we wear, we express how we feel,” he says. “What I’m saying, the message I’m carrying, or even the sound I’m choosing to convey that message, it all inevitably aligns with my style.”

That natural synergy between music and fashion is something Joey sees as mutual, not hierarchical. “I think it’s like an ecosystem,” he says. “Both have influenced each other over time, and now they’re so blood-related that they feed off each other. It’s like the chicken or the egg — they just coexist and manifest in real time.”

As someone who moves between the studio, the screen, and fashion campaigns, Joey doesn’t see authenticity as something he has to balance. “At this point, it’s second nature,” he says. “adidas and Avirex — that’s full alignment. That’s authentic right there. Once I show up, everything’s in sync. I’d wear it anyway.”

New York City remains the creative pulse of Joey’s art — and the foundation for this collaboration. It’s where music, fashion, and self-expression collide. “There’s so much creativity that comes out of New York,” he says. “It’s free, diverse, and always moving forward.”

That sense of freedom defines both his artistic journey and the new adidas x Avirex capsule. Each piece — from the leather jacket to the Superstar — reflects the city’s legacy of resilience and individuality.

“In 2025, everything is happening all at once,” Joey says. “Fashion is at the same place we’re at with music. There’s all this genre-bending — it’s healthy because people are just expressing who they are and what feels authentic, instead of staying confined to a certain trend.”

From his lyrics to his wardrobe, Joey Bada$$ continues to carry the soul of Brooklyn into everything he touches. Just like the adidas Superstar and Avirex’s iconic jackets, his story is one of endurance, originality, and rebirth — proof that New York’s energy isn’t just alive, it’s evolving.

So, is it a Flex, Trade, or Fade? For me, this one’s a Flex — no doubt about it. This collection is a love letter to New York City style, something that’s been a part of me since day one. Growing up in NYC, I’ve always seen an Avirex jacket as more than just outerwear, it’s a staple, a status symbol, and a reflection of how deeply fashion and identity intertwine here. Joey and adidas capturing that energy? That’s New York through and through.

But what about you — is the adidas x Avirex collab a Flex, Trade, or Fade in your book?