Why is Everyone Obsessed with This Tsinghua Uni x adidas Collab?

2 mins read

Moren Mao

1:56 PM
May 15, 2025

2 mins read

Tsinghua U, China’s top university, just dropped the coolest merch, where brains and style go hand in hand—all draped in purple.

Collegiate jerseys have been a statement piece of pride across the world for decades. Some even pick their final university based on its aesthetics as much as its education. Well, kids now have another reason to go to Tsinghua University – for its kick-ass drip. To mark its 114th anniversary, the university dropped a fresh sportswear collection in collaboration with sportswear giant adidas. The limited edition line combines the iconic adidas stripes with Tsinghua’s signature purple, topped off with the university’s official logo. The lineup includes windbreakers, jackets, t-shirts, backpacks, and other accessories, ranging from 129 RMB ($18 USD) to 899 RMB ($125 USD).

As expected, items sold out almost instantly after launching online. Some even traveled to Beijing just to snag pieces directly from the campus store. Currently, most items still remain out of stock, with many turning to resellers to get these coveted pieces.

RADII showcases the Tsinghua University and adidas sportswear collaboration in purple. — Collab items resold on Goo Fish, China’s largest marketplace app.

But what makes this collaboration such a big deal (other than the awesome “grape soda-esque” purple)? Well, Tsinghua University is China’s top university—period. Think Princeton, MIT, or Harvard. But you can’t talk about Tsinghua without mentioning its rival, Peking University. The two institutions have maintained a friendly feud for decades, “fighting” every year over the top Gaokao (China’s college entrance exam) scorers.

While Tsinghua is known for its STEM programs, Peking University is famous for its strength in the Humanities. Because of the uneven gender distribution, netizens often joke that if you’re looking for a girlfriend, go to Peking; if you’re looking for a boyfriend, go to Tsinghua.

While branded college apparel is much more common in the U.S., like Harvard with Nike and Columbia with Lululemon, such collaborations are still pretty rare in China. The only two other notable collaborations include Tsinghua’s past partnership with Anta Sports, a Chinese sportswear brand, and Peking University’s Li-Ning winter collection in 2022. Though neither generated as much hype as this recent adidas collab.

While being sleek and cool, the release is not without online debates, with some wondering if it’s appropriate to wear Tsinghua gear without being a student. Others pushed back by noting how common it is to find Ivy League apparel in thrift shops (even in China). One user joked, “Give it a few years, maybe these Tsinghua pieces will show up at vintage stores too.”