Kader Sylla grew up in Los Angeles watching skaters like Paul Rodriguez reach the point where having a signature shoe was part of turning pro. Sylla got there quickly himself, turning pro at 16 and developing a style built around speed, big drops, and a relaxed approach that made him one of the most recognizable skaters of his generation. After joining adidas Skateboarding in 2021, he is now getting that same milestone with his first signature model, called the Kader.
Kader wanted a shoe with enough padding and impact protection to handle the way he skates. In an interview with Nice Kicks, he explained that being able to jump in the shoe was his biggest priority, which pushed the design toward a more substantial shape instead of the slimmer profiles seen across a lot of skate footwear.
Skateboarding Meets ’90s adidas Basketball
A lot of the Kader’s shape comes from his background. Growing up, Kader loved playing basketball and has always paid attention to basketball footwear, so adidas pulled from 1990s Equipment basketball shoes when developing his signature model. The result is a mid-top with more volume, padding, and structure.
The shoe uses a premium suede upper with Adituff underlays in high-wear areas, elastic tongue wings to hold the foot in place, a durable cupsole, and a full-length Lightmotion midsole for impact protection. The Three Stripes are worked directly into the lacing system instead of sitting separately on the side of the shoe.
Kader also brought a few details directly into the design process. One of the most important was the split toe cap, something he specifically wanted because he had not seen it used much in skate shoes. He also paid attention to the outsole, using multiple colors so the bottom of the shoe still has a visible detail while skating.
Core Black / College Purple
Black suede covers most of the mid-top upper, while purple accents run through the Three Stripe lace loops and stitching paying homage to past Kader colorways. Gold Metallic details add another small hit of contrast across Kader’s first signature colorway.
For Kader, getting a shoe with his name on it carries some weight. He told Nice Kicks that a signature model was something he dreamed about as a kid, and he hopes the Kader ends up being the first skate shoe for people who are just starting to skate.
Release Details
The adidas Kader in Core Black / College Purple / Gold Metallic, style KI0408, releases at Drift House on Friday, October 16. Pairs will be available in-store at 11AM ET and online at 2PM ET in sizes 8M-13M for $110.
