Soy meets sport with dáo's adidas collaboration

In an unexpected but delightfully playful pairing, Malaysian soy dessert brand dáo has teamed up with global sportswear giant adidas to launch a limited-edition apparel and merchandise collection.

The collaboration, dubbed “You had us at dáo”, blends dáo’s quirky, joyful identity with adidas’ performance-driven design, proving that food and fashion can intersect in creative, culturally resonant ways.

“At first, it may look like an unusual pairing, but that’s what made it exciting,” said a dáo spokesperson. “adidas stands for performance, culture and creativity, while dáo is all about joy, comfort and a sense of belonging through desserts. When we connected, we saw those shared values of authenticity and community, and knew we could create something special together.”

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The collection prominently features dáo’s soybean mascot and signature illustrations alongside the adidas logo. “It feels surreal and deeply meaningful,” the spokesperson added. “Our little dáo bean character started as a fun way to tell our story, and now it’s standing proudly next to an international icon like adidas. It shows that something rooted in Malaysian culture can hold its own on a global stage, while still keeping that lighthearted, local flavour.”

Additionally, the whole collaboration process between the two brands was a highly interactive. dáo and adidas explored the intersection of playfulness and performance, experimenting with how the dessert brand’s cheerful characters could live on sporty silhouettes. “From the first sketches to the final pieces, it was months of exchanging ideas, refining details, and making sure the collection stayed true to both brands,” the spokesperson explained.

The campaign launched with a media event on 15 August 2025 at dáo’s Damansara Jaya outlet, where the limited-edition dessert 'pandáo boost' was also introduced. The special menu item is available at selected dáo outlets, including SS15, Damansara Jaya, Bukit Tinggi 2, Kuchai Lama, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, and Kepong Rimbunan.

The adidas x dáo apparel and merchandise collection will be available from 20 August at select adidas stores: One Utama, TRX, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Setia City Mall, Aeon Bukit Tinggi, Pavilion KL, and Mid Valley. The range includes caps, adult and kids’ tees, and foldable tote bags, with a bonus dáo plushie for customers who purchase any two items, while stocks last.

This isn't the first time adidas has partnered with a F&B brand for an apparel drop. Last year, it teamed up with Singapore's Ya Kun Kaya Toast for the "Raise a toast" collaboration. The launch of the collaboration was timed with National Day in Singapore and saw the release of merchandise that locals could wear, carry or style with their favourite adidas pieces during time of celebrations.

Locally, Pestle & Mortar made waves with its co-branded apparel lines with ZUS Coffee and Chagee. Most recently this month, Jotun Malaysia partnered with local beverage brand ZUS Coffee to launch a lifestyle collaboration dubbed "Home is where the Brew is", bringing together the charm of home brewing and the comfort of beautifully curated spaces.

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