Adidas launched the Predator Edge recently – the 19th instalment in the iconic franchise – taking the design in a new direction to what had come immediately before. Now, as part of our Dropology series, we take a closer look with the help of Artur Markowski and Sven Roewe, Senior figures at adidas.
The new chapter of Predator sees the boot reimagined for the technical demands of the modern game taking a new direction from that of the Mutator and Freak that preceded it. And while it may look familiar, nodding to the Lethal Zones model 10 years after it was originally launched, particularly with that launch colourway, the Predator Edge is built using the most cutting edge technology available today. Key among that is the introduction of Zone Skin – a breakthrough innovation supporting swerve, spin and grip. To find out more about the design, we spoke with Artur Markowski, Senior Product Manager of Football Footwear, and Sven Roewe, Senior Development Manager of Football Footwear for what is the latest instalment in our 'Dropology' series.
Can you summarise what makes this such a revolutionary member of the Predator family?
Artur: PREDATOR EDGE will launch with a campaign led by some of the world’s leading female players who see the possibilities to break through old stereotypes and push the game forwards, including Wendie Renard, Abby Dahlkemper, Toni Duggan and Christiane Endler. The boot will be worn on pitch by these players, as well as other PREDATOR icons, including Paul Pogba, Marc-Andre Ter Stegan, and David Alaba.
In essence, we believe that it is a new boot for a new era of football, and we see its launch as both a platform and a beacon for possibilities. By unleashing the next level of player’s skill, we’re enabling what we refer to as the ‘EDGE’ effect, to help push the whole game forward – not just his or hers.
From a technology perspective, the move from DEMONSKIN to ZONE SKIN is part of the perpetual evolution that PREDATOR has become famed for. The new ZONE SKIN has been engineered based on athlete feedback. The rubber has been strategically engineered into four control zones across the instep and toe box to optimize ball manipulation and control exactly where players need it most.
Whenever we create a new PREDATOR boot, we draw inspiration from the whole history of the franchise and look to create something for the future of the game.
Whenever we create a new PREDATOR boot, we draw inspiration from the whole history of the franchise and look to create something for the future of the game."
Where do you start when re-imagining an icon? Where did you draw inspiration from?
It’s about looking into the heritage of Predator but still creating the unexpected which is the key element for every new PREDATOR. It’s about finding anchors of an icon by implementing new innovations in order to add another layer to the legacy. For PREDATOR EDGE we took inspiration from low poly art and re-imagined the PREDATOR aesthetic through this lens. Hence you will find those facetted details from the collar design of the FACET FIT collar, the zones of the ZONE SKIN and the multiple facets on the FACET FRAME outsole. All of these visual elements need to serve first and foremost the performance requirements of a high intensity game of football, as well as the human anatomy.
It’s important to look back but so fundamental to break new ground and look forward. What have you taken from the past and what have you brought into it that pushes in a new direction?
Evolving a franchise means always to carefully assess what has been perceived well by players on previous iterations as well as identify areas and parts that were appreciated less. In order to do that, we had a lot of open conversations with players of different backgrounds and different levels in addition to our lab and wear testing programs.
As with all of our products, we go through a rigorous development, testing, and feedback process with both athletes and consumers. For PREDATOR EDGE, both male and female players from elite to grassroots levels were involved from the start as our ultimate goal was to create a boot that is comfortable, accessible to all, and benefits all-round control of the game, optimizing swerve, spin and grip
For the Predator Edge we worked especially close with Abby, Toni, Wendie and Christiane to make sure that we captured a new perspective on the next chapter of PREDATOR. Evolution can only happen by adding a new stimulus or changing the focus of innovation.
At the same time the Predator DNA is deeply rooted in ball manipulation technologies both visually and in terms of innovation, so it is an obligation for us to take a look back in history for inspiration. At the beginning of the design process we put all PREDATORs on a table to find some reference from the past to be translated into a future design.
A boot has to work of course, as well as be aesthetically pleasing – what tech is under the hood of the Predator Edge? What makes this such a powerhouse?
PREDATOR EDGE features three key new innovations. First and foremost is the ZONE SKIN – a breakthrough innovation supporting swerve, spin and grip. Strategically positioned rubberized ribs engineered into four control zones across the instep and toe box optimize ball manipulation, giving players a powerful edge and the confidence to push the game forward.
Second is the newly developed FACET FRAME on the sole of the boot, which delivers stability and dynamic traction for powerful movement on the pitch. The frame also features a weighted forefoot piece that redistributes weight toward the front of the boot, optimizing power transfer when striking the ball. Each facet on the tooling had to be engineered with purpose, so it is a real piece of art with over 1,000 facets placed on a single outsole.
Finally, the boot is finished with a FACET FIT collar construction – a premium laceless two-piece PRIMEKNIT collar designed for breathable comfort, easy step in, and secure lock down of the foot during play.
The aesthetics – tell us about them…from the use of materials to the shape of the collar – there’s a lot of craftsmanship as well as elite engineering in this product isn’t there?
Sven: Absolutely. Naturally a foot shape is quite round but PREDATOR EDGE delivers something unexpected. The shoe contains edges wherever possible, but also keeps the fit as comfortable as possible. Each facet on the shoe had to be designed individually – be it on the outsole, the stripes, or the ZONE SKIN. Additionally, the material selection of the different pieces are thought through in detail to feature their actual purpose.
We deliberately went for a drastic change of design expression from a very animalistic aesthetic on the PREDATOR MUTATOR and PREDATOR FREAK to a very hard-edged, geometrical and performance driven aesthetic on the PREDATOR EDGE."
Launching with a colourway like this, how much was that palette front and centre when designing this boot? Why those colours?
When working on a new boot we might have a certain launch colourway already in mind that captures the character and innovation of the boot best, however the final decision about colorways is being made later in the creation process. The first couple of prototypes are usually made with blackout materials and the focus is on getting the fit right as well as the tech.
The Hi-Res Blue and Turbo colour combination from the Sapphire Edge pack is designed on one hand to highlight the innovation with a high contrast between shades of blue and red. On the other hand, this colour combination has always been an important one next to the “classic” black/white/red colour combination. Think of the Predator Mania Japan blue or the Predator LZ.
The Predator boot means so much to so many, how would you describe the mindset of the boot in comparison to those that have gone before?
We are very aware of the importance of this particular boot for many players out there and also to many that are working on it in our product creation team. There are a lot of nostalgic memories attached to the history. At the same time we want to make sure that new PREDATOR models are relevant for the new generation of players, and enable them to create their own legacies. What connects all generations throughout the history of PREDATOR is a mindset of impacting the game, chasing after those highlight moments, and stepping on the pitch with confidence. Forward oriented and in charge of the game. So, in essence each PREDATOR embodies the same mindset but in a different context over time, always evolving.
From ‘Freak’ to ‘Edge’ – what does that say about trends and the way adidas football positions itself with this new wave of performance product?
We deliberately went for a drastic change of design expression from a very animalistic aesthetic on the PREDATOR MUTATOR and PREDATOR FREAK to a very hard-edged, geometrical and performance driven aesthetic on the PREDATOR EDGE.
As a leading sportswear brand, we have a responsibility to stand by the side of female athletes and support them to progress without restraint. To champion women as individuals and as a collective as they strive to be their best version on the pitch. From product design innovations that reflect physical and technical needs, to initiatives, experiences, and activations that offer access to possibilities.
PREDATOR EDGE is so much more than just a boot: we see it as the start of a brand-new chapter for the franchise. With the product campaign we have taken a fresh approach to launching a PREDATOR boot. Our aim is to help shatter stereotypes of women’s football and push the whole game forwards, with PREDATOR EDGE at the heart of this progression.
How does it feel to have injected fresh ideas into such a renowned line? Your work is part of history through this product…
As the PREDATOR franchise started in 1994, pretty much all experts involved in the creation process went from playing the in boot themselves in their teenage years to being part of the innovation process in order to discover the next chapters. So, we had the unique privilege to switch sides of history throughout the years and with that comes great responsibility. It’s a balance of injecting you own personal ideas from the team working on the PREDATOR mixed with latest insights from sports science, trends and especially feedback from players. Afterall it, is a very comparable feeling of excitement to see certain ideas coming to life as it was unboxing our first pair of PREDATOR maybe 10-15 years ago. I personally keep my favorite pair of worn out PREDATOR PULSE within reach as reminder of the legacy we are working on.
What would you like the audience to know about what makes this boot such a stand out item?
PREDATOR EDGE is so much more than just a boot: we see it as the start of a brand-new chapter for the franchise. With the product campaign we have taken a fresh approach to launching a PREDATOR boot. Our aim is to help shatter stereotypes of women’s football and push the whole game forwards – not just his or hers – with PREDATOR EDGE at the heart of this progression.
Shop the adidas Predator Edge at prodirectsoccer.com
