Two pupils from Mossley Hollins School in Greater Manchester will see their trainer design produced and sold in JD stores after winning a nationwide competition run by JD Sports and adidas.

Best friends Erica and Caitlyn, both 15, were surprised with the news during a special assembly at their school on Tuesday 14 July, having been kept in the dark about their win by their parents and teachers.

The Year 10 pupils were presented with framed images of their winning trainer design in front of around 180 classmates by popular Bolton TikTok creator and youth champion Jacob Pasquill from Whysup, a charity which delivers mental health workshops in schools in partnership with JD UP and the JD Foundation.

Erica and Caitlyn created the winning trainer design at JD UP in February 2026, an event run by JD Sports that aims to combat youth unemployment and support social mobility across the UK. The pair used a virtual CAD design system to create their ideal trainer – a pink and burgundy take on the classic adidas Superstar - as part of an adidas competition at the event.

With over 10,000 young people having a chance to enter, entries were reviewed and shortlisted by a panel of judges from JD and adidas, including Aaron Stewart, JD’s Buying Director and Matt Swann, Director of JD Sales at adidas. Erica and Caitlyn’s design was chosen as the winner due to its fresh and distinctive style, and their creativity in giving the classic a more contemporary style.

The trainer is now expected to go into production, with a release targeted for JD stores in May 2027. Proceeds from its sale will support the JD Foundation and its work helping young people to achieve their unlimited potential, through its support for grassroots and national youth initiatives.

Erica and Caitlyn will continue to be involved in the development of the trainer as it goes into production and will be invited to visit a JD store to see their trainer on the shelf, when the finished product is released.

Commenting on their win, Erica said: "I was really surprised when we won. We just chose colours we loved, like pink and burgundy, and thought they worked really well together."

Caitlyn said: "It's so special to have done this with my best friend. I think it's better than doing it alone, and seeing our trainers sold in JD is something we'll remember forever."

Aaron Stewart, Buying Director – Footwear at JD, said: “JD UP is about giving young people the chance to explore careers and opportunities they may not previously have considered, so it is fantastic to be able to take Erica and Caitlin’s idea beyond the event and work towards turning it into a real product. We’re looking forward to involving Erica and Caitlyn throughout the development process and, ultimately, seeing their design arrive in JD stores.”

This winning Superstar design stands out through its strong personal expression and clear design vision. It strikes an excellent balance between a creative colour palette and broad commercial appeal.

Fresh, youthful, and full of character, the design is elevated by exciting details that enhance its overall impact. By successfully combining creativity, aesthetics, and market relevance, it achieved the highest standard across all judging criteria, making it the deserving winner of the competition.

Mrs S Motteram, Assistant Headteacher and Personal Development lead at Mossley Hollins School, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that two of our Year 10 students have won the adidas trainer design competition through the JDUP Event. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved. Their creativity, hard work and enthusiasm really shone through, and this recognition is thoroughly deserved. Opportunities like these have such a positive impact on our young people, helping them build confidence, develop new skills, and raise their aspirations. We'd like to thank JD and adidas for giving our students such an inspiring experience, and we look forward to seeing what they achieve next.”

JD Up is an immersive annual careers event hosted by the JD Foundation (the charitable arm of the global sportswear retailer, JD Sports) for students from local schools and JD Foundation charities.

The event was created to give young people access to new experiences, skills and opportunities across to explore careers in industries including sport, fashion and the creative sector.

Amongst talks and immersive workshops to teach young people about different types of careers and opportunities, this year’s JD UP included the competition to allow students to learn more about shoe design, in partnership with adidas.

A total of 10,494 young people from 82 schools attended JD UP in Manchester Central Convention Centre in February 2026, including Erica and Caitlyn from Mossley Hollins School.