WOODstack Put ‘Blood, Sweat & Tears’ Into the Adistar Control 5

Control 5 revival has been building serious steam this year, but WOODstack just gave the silhouette its most personal chapter yet. The Brooklyn retailer has reworked the stability-era runner through a narrative lens, unveiling a colourway anchored in the classic trifecta of ‘blood, sweat, and tears’ – the real currency of anyone who has built something from scratch in New York.

The Adistar Control 5’s early-2000s DNA stays intact: layered panels, sweeping overlays and that chunky, sure-footed stance that made the original a favourite for pavement-pounding miles. WOODstack, though, inject their own story through a punchy palette. Deep reds channel the grind, metallic silvers nod to shuttered storefront gates opening at sunrise, and hits of blue symbolise the emotional payoff when the hustle pays off. It’s a colourway that feels lived-in rather than – earnest, grounded, unmistakably NYC.

The colab doesn’t end at the shoe, either. WOODstack are pairing the release with community initiatives celebrating local entrepreneurs, plus a new grant aimed at supporting small brick-and-mortar makers. It’s a neat extension of their mission and a reminder that independent retail still has plenty of heartbeat left.

Scheduled to land on December 17, the shoe will release exclusively through WOODstack online and in-store, priced at $120. Given how the Adistar Control 5 has quietly become one of adidas’ most interesting comeback stories, expect this edition to resonate with both retro-runner fans and anyone who respects a little sweat equity in their sneakers.

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