James Whitner has always focused on supporting and uplifting underrepresented voices in art and culture through his work in the sneaker industry. One of his biggest projects is 38a, an art gallery started by the Whitaker Group in Pittsburgh, which showcases the talent of Black, brown, and minority artists. This November, 38a is expanding with a new gallery in Charlotte and is celebrating with an exhibit called Queens & Kings: A Tale of Two Cities. As part of this special event, 38a is collaborating with adidas to release a unique version of the iconic Superstar sneaker.
The design of the “Queens & Kings” Superstar is inspired by playing cards. The sneaker is black and white, featuring bold “Q” and “K” letters on the left and right backtabs, representing the queen and king cards. The insoles have card-like graphics, and there’s a card-shaped hangtag attached to the shoes. On the inside of the tongue, you’ll find the phrase “To The Queens + Kings,” with the “+” cleverly placed in a blank space. The sidewalls are made of pebbled leather, and the sneakers come with thick, high-quality laces that resemble those from luxury brands. The 38a logo is featured on the tongue to mark the collaboration.
The Queens & Kings: A Tale of Two Cities exhibit will be open in Charlotte from November 15th to December 6th. After that, it will move to Pittsburgh, where it will be held from December 13th to December 30th. However, the special edition “Queens & Kings” adidas Superstar will not be available for public purchase. It will be gifted only to selected artists and creators.
This collaboration and the new gallery are another step in James Whitner’s mission to amplify diverse voices and celebrate creativity in the art and sneaker communities.
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