The Whitaker Group and adidas turn the 1970s BW Army into a marathon shoe

The Whitaker Group and adidas released the BW Run Do Not Duplicate, a race-ready overhaul of the BW Army, a lightweight indoor training shoe that began in the 1970s. It was created for the Chicago Marathon as part of a six-shoe capsule with three Evo SL colorways and three BW Run iterations, the latter leaning toward lifestyle rather than pure performance.

The Whitaker Group is led by James Whitner and is the name behind A Ma Maniére, Social Status, APB and Prosper. The Three Stripes has paired with a retail group known for grounding collaborations in community narrative, social responsibility and premium craftsmanship, a pedigree that suits sneakers well.

The BW Run reimagines the vintage German trainer silhouette with an updated running lens. Traditional leather gives way to a richer material build: breathable mesh forms the base, and glossy patent leather panels reinforce it, which separates the shoe visibly from the leather original.

The main change is the sole unit. A slim EVA midsole adds more cushioning than the original, and a more heavily treaded outsole gives the grip needed for runs. The upper changes the look of the shoe; the sole changes what it is asked to do.

Each of the six pairs draws inspiration from either the official marathon participant bibs or Chicago city infrastructure, a storyline that runs through the whole pack. The storyline runs through the whole pack, so the three Evo SL colorways and the three BW Run iterations share one narrative tied directly to the race.

What the capsule contains

The BW Run Do Not Duplicate is the pair named in the release, and the Chicago Marathon is the occasion the whole Do Not Duplicate pack was made for.

The material we have seen gives no price, no release date and no run size for the pack. It also does not say which retailers will stock it, or whether the three Evo SL pairs and the three BW Run pairs launch on the same day.

Whitner's approach is the reason the release drew attention. While most brands adjust the color of panels or fabrics, he brings a full concept and adjusts the silhouette in line with a guiding storyline.

The BW Army began in the 1970s as a lightweight indoor training shoe. Turning it into a marathon-ready model is a long jump in purpose, and the move from leather to mesh and patent, with a cushioned EVA midsole underneath, is what makes that jump.

Adidas is already part of how we pick sneakers. In our guide to the best white sneakers for men, the Stan Smith covers the everyday leather tier, while the Ultraboost is our choice for white pairs worth running in, giving 300 to 500 miles before the midsole goes.

We have also reviewed the Adidas Ultraboost, and our verdict was that there is no end of reasons to love it. The BW Run starts somewhere else: an archive silhouette from the 1970s that receives cushioning and tread rather than beginning life as a running model.

Adidas collaborations we have followed

Adidas has run large collaborations before. Our guide to the best Yeezys lists the Adidas models from the 750 Boost in 2015 to the 450 in 2021, and notes that Adidas ended its Yeezy partnership in October 2022 and sold the last of its stock in late 2024.

Our pick of that era is the Yeezy 350 V2, which launched in Beluga on September 24, 2016, at $220. The 700 followed as the Wave Runner in 2017 at $300. For comparison, no price has been given for any BW Run pair.

Since the split, Ye's independent YEEZY label launched new models at JD Sports and Finish Line in the US on August 13, 2026. Adidas, meanwhile, is putting its name to a retail-led project with The Whitaker Group built around a single city race.

Our guide to the best sneakers for women covers classic Nike and Adidas pairs and the latest fashion styles, chosen for comfort, versatility and standout looks. The material for this capsule does not mention sizing or a women's version, so we cannot say whether one is planned.

The release fits the sneaker thread we follow in our coverage of style, where a retail group's concept shapes a mainstream silhouette. Here the concept is a marathon, and the finished BW Run is described as looking good as well as carrying the story.