People Fought Each Other To Get Pharrell’s “Unity” Sneakers

Limited-edition sneakers can make people do some idiotic things, and one of the most hyped and limited shoes of the moment comes courtesy of Adidas, in collaboration with singer and producer Pharrell Williams. The most sought-after versions are a take on Adidas’ NMD sneaker, and on the resale market, they can go for several hundred or even thousands of dollars. The line, called Hu—short for “human”—is actually meant to represent “Pharrell’s founding vision of energy, color, and spirituality as a unifying force between people,” according to Adidas. Though the people who have been lining up for the latest release evidently didn’t get the message. Not for the first time, fights have been breaking out as crowds of eager shoppers try to get their hands on a pair. Sneaker and entertainment site The Playbook reports that shoppers got violent in Singapore at the latest drop for the shoes. The crisp white “Blank Canvas” pack, which also includes a few other Adidas styles in addition to the NMD, is meant as a tribute to the Indian festival of Holi, which involves a joyous tossing about of brightly colored powders and celebrates good beating away evil. (Of course it is often marred by sexual assaults and violence.) Read more at Quartz.