From the Pavement Up: WOODstack & adidas Honor the Grit of NYC with "Blood, Sweat & Tears"
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By PAGE Editor
In a city that never sleeps, the real pulse is found not in its towering skyscrapers, but in the storefronts that line its neighborhoods. It’s in the early mornings lifting metal gates, the long nights balancing ledgers, and the profound, personal investment of building something from nothing. This is the spirit WOODstack—the Brooklyn-born sneaker and cultural cornerstone—has bottled and infused into its latest collaboration with adidas: the “Blood, Sweat & Tears” Adistar Control 5.
More than a sneaker, this shoe is a narrative. Unveiled on the heels of WOODstack’s 15th anniversary and born from adidas’ Business Track program with Detroit's Pensole Lewis College, the project marks the retailer’s evolution from local staple to a cultural force with a microphone for the city’s true builders. Launching December 17, 2025, exclusively at WOODstack stores and online, the campaign is a tribute to the relentless hustle that defines New York.
The “Blood, Sweat & Tears” name is a literal and figurative blueprint. The design is a coded homage to the entrepreneur’s journey: a deep burgundy for the blood—the sacrifice and vital force poured into a venture. A resilient blue for the sweat and tears—both the struggles and the joys of success. Silver hits echo the metal gates pulled open daily with purpose. And it all rests on a soft pink sole, representing the hope for a safe landing. Built for comfort, the Adistar Control 5 is presented not just as footwear, but as a tool for the long haul.
True to its community-first DNA, WOODstack uses this launch to spotlight the very people who inspire it. The campaign features portraits of New York’s entrepreneurial backbone: Nicole & Michael Nicholas of Aunts et Uncles (Flatbush), Jeremy Batista of Bodega City (citywide), Michael Cacace of Michael’s of Brooklyn (Sheepshead Bay), and Lizzy Okpo of The Oma Shop (Harlem).
But the tribute extends beyond imagery. In partnership with adidas, WOODstack is launching the "Made by Hard Work Grant," a $5,000 award for NYC small brick-and-mortar business owners. It’s a direct investment in the next generation of bodega owners, restaurateurs, and shopkeepers, acknowledging that the city’s future is built on this foundation.
To celebrate, WOODstack and adidas will host a public event at WOODstack Flatbush (1353 Flatbush Ave) on launch day, December 17th, featuring limited merch, music by Maluca and Tim Reyes, and food by Bodega City.
From its start as a single Greenpoint storefront founded by an immigrant with a dream in 2011 to a soon-to-be eight-location force, WOODstack’s growth mirrors the tenacity it celebrates. This release coincides with the announcement of their 8th NYC location, arriving Q1 2026.
The “Blood, Sweat & Tears” Adistar Control 5 (priced at $120) is ultimately a wearable monument. It’s a story of lift-as-you-climb, of hard work as the ultimate currency, and a reminder that the soul of New York City is, and always has been, made by hand.
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