Fear of God and adidas Partnership Concludes After Nearly Five Years

In a move that is reshaping the footwear and fashion conversation, Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God and adidas are officially ending their long-anticipated partnership at the close of December 2025. Lorenzo confirmed the news in a recent interview, revealing that both sides agreed not to renew the collaboration once the current contract expires.

A Collaboration That Promised Big Things

The alliance between Fear of God and adidas was first announced in late 2020, positioning Lorenzo as a central creative force within adidas Basketball and establishing the Fear of God Athletics sub-brand. The partnership was expected to merge Lorenzo’s minimalist luxury aesthetic with adidas’s performance-driven heritage—an alignment many hoped would reset the standard for sport-style collaborations.

Despite the strong anticipation, the rollout faced significant delays. Although the collaboration was revealed in 2020, the first broad Fear of God Athletics product offerings did not reach consumers until late 2023, slowing the early momentum the partnership was expected to carry.

Creative Differences and Industry Impact

Lorenzo’s shift from Nike to adidas was widely viewed as a power move that could redefine how high-end designers intersect with athletic brands. However, the creative philosophies between the two entities did not always operate in harmony. adidas functions on fast-paced performance timelines, while Fear of God’s design ethos tends to be slower, more intentional, and artisan-driven. The differing rhythms made it challenging at times to fully synchronize vision and output.

Still, the partnership yielded notable designs across apparel and footwear, including performance silhouettes under the Fear of God Athletics banner. Yet few models achieved the cultural resonance of Lorenzo’s earlier creations, such as his groundbreaking Nike collaborations—highlighting the difficulty of capturing both hype and longevity in today’s crowded sneaker landscape.

What’s Next for adidas and Fear of God?

Even as the contract ends, several products conceived during this collaboration are still slated to release through 2026, including new iterations of the Fear of God Athletics Basketball line that Lorenzo debuted publicly this year.

With the partnership concluding, the industry is watching Lorenzo’s next move just as closely as adidas’s. Will Fear of God pursue a new alliance with another global brand? Will Lorenzo focus on expanding Fear of God’s standalone categories? He has hinted that future collaborations remain possible “if visions align,” suggesting new opportunities may emerge under terms that better match his creative cadence.