adidas Originals has partnered up with the Pakistani restaurant for its ‘adilicious’ sneaker series.
“You don’t come to Ravi for the décor, you come for the food,” said Anthony Bourdain of the beloved Pakistani restaurant, a sentiment echoed by everyone from Snoop Dogg and Craig David to tourists and residents. Now, adidas Originals is paying homage to Ravi as part of its ‘adilicious’ series that is celebrating 11 community-focused restaurants in 11 cities around the world – Dubai included, of course.
The result? The SUPERSTAR RAVI sneaker, a wearable symbol of just how long the restaurant has served as a hub for both diasporic and local families, friends and creative communities to come together. For the uninitiated, Ravi was founded in Dubai as a family-owned business by Chaudary Abdul Hameed back in 1978. His plans for the restaurant were to cater to those who miss home-cooked meals at an affordable price, while giving people a taste of authentic Pakistani food. Over time, his original plans grew into what it is today: a culinary destination for foodies of all backgrounds.
With its first – and most popular – outpost located in the heart of Al Satwa, the casual dining spot has become synonymous with community and culture. Today, you’ll hear stories of staff and loyal customers spanning multiple generations, making it a veritable family affair. Offering a reinterpreted take on the adidas Original Superstar, the special-edition SUPERSTAR RAVI colourway references the Pakistani heritage of the owners and features a custom sock liner with a hand-drawn map design signifying its etymology; Ravi is named after a river in Northeastern Pakistan. Elsewhere, the heel tab branding includes the year Ravi opened alongside the name in English and Arabic on either shoe, as well as three sets of laces.
The restaurant owners hand-selected six hero dishes that have been added to the tongue of the sneakers, with English on one side and Arabic on the other. Each pair of shoes is delivered in a special takeaway-style box and comes with a detachable hangtag featuring the restaurant’s logo. “My family has worked so hard to bring Ravi to where it is now, it has become more than just a restaurant with staff and customers – it has become a home that many grew up with. To say that Ravi had a humble beginning and is now representing Dubai as a key city with adidas is a milestone to celebrate,” said Hameed.
This unique collaboration represents the ability of food to be able to transcend physical borders and create cultural bonds, metaphorically transporting us to somewhere new or a taste of home for many of the diasporic communities found in adidas key cities. All 11 culinary-inspired silhouettes in the ‘adilicious’ series are therefore driven by the same mantra – authentic food, real people, fresh sneakers. The striking designs tell the unique story of each restaurant, reflecting its aesthetic in every nuanced detail and paying tribute to the people who play an important role in the fabric of their communities. Here, the collaboration is highlighting what Ravi does best: nostalgia.
The limited-edition SUPERSTAR RAVI sneaker will be available for sale on 23 June online through adidas shoes and select retailers exclusive to Dubai.
