The adidas Forum first released in 1984 as a basketball silhouette designed to compete with Nike Air Force 1 and Air Jordan 1. The Forum featured a signature top-strap around the ankle — functional for lockdown during basketball play — and high-cut collar with extensive leather construction. The silhouette was worn by NBA players and became a cultural staple in New York basketball culture throughout the 1980s.
Core Forum variants
- Forum Hi (1984) — the original high-top
- Forum Mid — mid-cut variant
- Forum Low — low-top variant that became the 2020s flagship
- Forum 84 Low/Hi — modern heritage retros
- Forum 84 ADV — skate-specific variant
- Forum Buckle Low — with signature ankle strap
- Forum Exhibit — 2021 revival
- Forum Vegan — sustainable variant
The 2020s revival
The Forum's cultural resurgence began in 2020-2021 with adidas's broader focus on heritage basketball silhouettes. The Forum Low became the breakthrough release, driven by:
- Bad Bunny × Forum Low "Blue Tint" (2021) — the defining modern Forum release
- Bad Bunny × Forum Buckle Low "First Café" (2022)
- Ivy Park × Forum (Beyoncé) — multiple seasonal releases
- Pharrell × Forum — Humanrace collaborations
- Need Supply × Forum
- Sneakersnstuff × Forum
Collaborations and colorways
The Bad Bunny × Forum series has been the most commercially successful Forum revival, with the "Blue Tint" launching the renaissance. Ivy Park × Forum releases have emphasized earthy tonal palettes. The Pharrell × Forum Humanrace colorways continue the designer's ongoing adidas partnership.
Retail
Standard Forum Low retros retail at $90-$110. Collaborative releases (Bad Bunny, Ivy Park, Pharrell) price at $120-$180. Secondary market prices on hyped Forum collaborations routinely reach 3-5x retail.