Spencer Badu makes his debut in the footwear world with a bold collaboration: teaming up with HOKA, the Canadian-Ghanaian designer reimagines the Elevon X silhouette — inspired by themes of diaspora, identity, and movement.

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Known for his rebellious yet refined fashion rooted in uniform influences, Badu brings his distinctive design language to a sneaker for the very first time.

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“Your first shoe design involves a lot of pressure,” says Spencer Badu. “I wanted to create something that reflected the story behind my brand. We design for movement — both physical and emotional — and this collaboration captures that. It’s a representation of the journey we take to understand ourselves and our roots.”

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The collaboration reimagines the HOKA Elevon X silhouette with a bold yellow upper and symbolic details that reflect Badu’s roots.

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In addition to the Spencer Badu logo, the shoe design features a cowrie shell — once used as currency along Ghana’s Gold Coast — and two Adinkra symbols from the symbolic language of Ghana and the Ivory Coast: Fawohodie (freedom) and Nyame Dua (tree of God). They represent spiritual protection and personal liberation.

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“This partnership contains everything that makes for a strong collaboration: authenticity, dynamism, and a deeper message,” says Thomas Cykana, Senior Director of Global Collaborations and Partnerships at HOKA. “Spencer brought a vision to the table that fully aligns with our values. Together, we've created a moment that tells a powerful story through his eyes.”

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The collaboration is further brought to life through a short film directed and produced by Badu. Shot in Ghana and Toronto, the film captures moments of self-reflection and movement — with vibrant scenes at Accra’s Makola Market and quiet, personal narratives in the designer’s studio. The short film serves both as a visual campaign and a personal statement.

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The Spencer Badu x HOKA Elevon X collab is being released this month at select retailers.

HOKA is available offline and online at the following stores: 43einhalb, AFEW Store, Asphaltgold, HHV, JNS, SneakerTwins, SUPPA and VooStore.

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Photos via HOKA