by Two weeks ago, we wrote that Diadora was “about to make its biggest comeback yet.” And listen, we hate to brag, but days after the announcement of its JW Anderson collab, the Italian sportswear label has now followed up with an even louder link-up: Dolce & Gabbana.
Unlike the JW Anderson drop, the D&G collection is super rowdy. And instead of introducing a brand new silhouette altogether, it digs deep into the Diadora’s archives to bring back one of its most legendary football models: the Brasil.
Originally launched in 1984, the Brasil has proper calcio heritage behind it. It’s a boot that’s been worn by some of the Beautiful Game’s biggest names over the decades (Ballon d’Or winners like Italy’s Roberto Baggio and the Netherlands’ Marco van Basten, to name a few). And even if you’ve never laced up for five-a-side in your entire life, there’s still something incredibly cool about the shape. Slim profile. Folded tongue. Old school football energy. Right now, that’s exactly what big fashion guys want.
“The collaboration between Diadora and Dolce & Gabbana celebrates a time when football stood for identity, style, and culture,” Enrico Moretti Polegato, chairman of Diadora, tells GQ. “We are shining a spotlight on an era in which sport was able to connect generations through passion and creativity.”
The collection comes in two versions: the Brasil football boot itself (made for actual football, FYI) and the Brasil ID sneaker, which takes the same DNA and reworks it for daily wear. Both are made of nappa leather with stitched detailing across the upper for better ball control and structure. There’s also an anatomical footbed for extra cushioning, plus Diadora’s signature Softy Pro 91 sole unit underneath to keep things nice and comfy.
And rather than going super clean and minimal like everyone else seems to be doing, Dolce & Gabbana is doing the most Dolce & Gabbana thing possible. Leopard-print pony hair panels run across sections of the upper, while some pairs go full beast mode entirely. It sounds ridiculous on paper. But in practice? We get it!
Since the beginning of time itself, D&G has always had an unapologetically glamorous Sicilian vibe, while Diadora’s always had deep roots in football culture. Mash them together and you end up with something that feels very Italian, very confident, and very aware of where menswear’s heading next. Because if the past year has taught us anything, it’s that football fashion is no longer niche. It’s just fashion now.
Where Diadora goes next is anyone’s guess. But right now, the momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The Dolce & Gabbana x Diadora collection releases on June 8 via Dolce & Gabbana’s official website, selected flagship stores, and specialist stockists worldwide.
