Pharrell reimagined adidas’ record-breaking super shoe as a $1,000 concept

adidas and Pharrell Williams’ Humanrace have released the EVOLUTION Pro, a $1,000 design study built on adidas’ Pro Evo 1—the $500 super shoe Tigst Assefa wore to set the women’s marathon world record in 2023. The collaboration explores “touch-reactive” design elements intended to create what the brand calls “a new sensory experience” underfoot, though specifics on how that functions haven’t been detailed.

adidas x Humanrace EVOLUTION Pro.

What makes it different

Beyond the touch-reactive elements, the EVOLUTION PRO features a wider sole and Pharrell’s minimalist design philosophy—a lightweight white monomesh upper with a 5D raised dot pattern and tonal lacing system. The Lightstrike Pro midsole carries over from adidas’ performance line, providing the energy return runners expect from the brand’s top-tier foam technology.

Concept over competition

adidas positions the EVOLUTION Pro as a design study rather than a straightforward performance release. That framing matters: at twice the price of the already expensive Pro Evo 1, this shoe is as much about exploring what super shoe design can become as it is about race-day performance.

The haptic design follows a broader industry trend toward sensory-focused footwear. Nike’s Mind 001 introduced neuroscience-informed design elements in 2025, using underfoot nodes to increase body awareness. The EVOLUTION Pro takes a different approach, using haptic textures to add a tactile dimension to the running experience.

Where to buy

The adidas x Humanrace EVOLUTION Pro is available on Humanrace in limited quantities at select partner retailers globally.