DUBAI: German sportswear giant Adidas has tapped Saudi designer Arwa Al-Benawi to redesign the brand’s classic sneakers. Seeking to empower women from her home region, the designer pays homage to her Gulf roots in the Arwa Al-Banawi Forum silhouette. The newly designed shoes come in pastel desert hues and feature a woven red and white heel cap that is inspired by the checkered pattern of traditional Arabian fabrics. Over the past few years Al-Benawi has made a name for herself as one of her generation’s most creative designers. She blends traditional tailoring with contemporary perspectives, working out of her design studios in Jeddah and Dubai to bring together eastern and western influences. The sneakers launch globally on May 28.