Founded in 2018, Thug Club first went viral with its "Suck My D*ck" boxers in 2021. Its pieces take inspiration from military wear and workwear, but with a punk twist. The brand made its ComplexCon debut last year and is set to return for the second time this October with an Adidas collab. It's the second of its kind. The first release was exclusive to Korea.
The collection includes both apparel and footwear, where staple Adidas silhouettes are reimagined through Thug Club’s design language: tracksuits with asymmetrical zips, studded hoodies, and the second iteration of the shell-toed Superstars, this time in a high-top. We spoke with Thug Club founder Jiyool Kwon about the brand's new Adidas collab, its plans for ComplexCon, and more. The first-ever collaboration with a global release will launch worldwide on October 20th. Also available at ComplexCon.
This is your second collaboration with Adidas. What’s different this time around?
Adidas has been a partner with our brand from the beginning, and following the successful Korea collection from last season, we are looking forward to our first-ever global release.
Thug Club has a very distinct design language. How did you balance your identity while working within Adidas’ world?
It’s meaningful to be working together with a brand that has a big heritage. The Adidas design team respected our design aesthetics as much as possible. In that process, the final shell-toe is the result that both sides were satisfied with.
What inspired this collection?
This collection was inspired by fencing, a sport I did for a long time when I was young. You can feel elements of fencing in the shape of the track top, thestitching, and the graphic patterns.
Some key details are the Superstar shell-toe, which received a lot of attention in the previous Korea-limited collection and the stitch details using the brand logo and our unique metal emblem in the apparel.
What's plannedfor ComplexCon this year?
Until now, we hadn't officially greeted the global stage, but many people have shown us love. So, this is also a formal greeting and an expression of gratitude. We are working hard on preparation. You'll have to check it out on-site.
Now that this collaboration is out in the world, what’s next for Thug Club? Are there directions you’re excited to explore after Adidas?
We will quietly continue to show our unique designs. We always want to come back showing growth.
Get your tickets to ComplexCon 2025 now to make sure you don’t miss it.