With Donovan Mitchell's future in mind, Jappy Agoncillo pays homage to the past in designing D.O.N. Issue 3 'Origin Story'

When one takes a look at adidas' special edition design of Donovan Mitchell's shoe line, the D.O.N. Issue #3 "Origin Story," one will easily see its comic book-inspired colorway which is easily spottable.

Filipino muralist Jappy Agoncillo, the designer of this special edition shoe, said he made sure that the shoes when worn inside the court will be seen even from the nosebleeds of an arena.

However, he revealed that some of the elements in the shoe design were also part of paying homage to Mitchell's past.

"Part of the storytelling of the shoe is really about Don's future in adidas, in the NBA," Agoncillo told reporters during the launch of the shoe line on Friday.

"When I think about someone’s future, you have to look back in the past. You have to honor that," Agoncillo said, referring to Mitchell's own history.

"It takes all these other things that no one sees, all the elements of their past, that creates the person you are today," he added.

Some of the design elements in the shoe are tributes to Mitchell's high school and college team, with the wingtip representing Mitchell's college team, the Louisville Cardinals, and the tiger stripe for Mitchell's middle school, the Greenwich Country Day School Tigers.

On the sole of the shoe, one can also see a map of Elmsford, New York, Mitchell's hometown. Agoncillo also put a pin representing Manila on the other side of the shoe, which pays tribute to the artist's own origins.

Agoncillo is the third Filipino artist tapped by the sports brand for its hyperlocal collaborations, following artists Quiccs and Egg Fiasco. adidas Philippines brand communications and sports marketing manager JD Cortez said they will continue to tap Filipino talent for their next projects. "It is our way of giving back to our Filipino consumers. This is not the last," he said.

The D.O.N. Issue #3 Origin Story will be available first in the adidas Brand Center and website starting June 10, and will be sold in selected adidas stores across the Philippines and Southeast Asia starting June 12.

—JMB, GMA News