Dove and Reebok have teamed up for “Reborn in My Kicks,” a Kintsugi-inspired sneaker collaboration celebrating women’s strength, healing, and comebacks. The campaign expands Dove’s “Reborn Stronger” movement and reflects Reebok’s belief in rising after setbacks. Limited-edition sneakers and in-store workshops highlight resilience as beauty and transformation.
Dove’s “Reborn Stronger” movement is stepping into a new arena, and this time, it comes laced with a bold, athletic twist. The brand has partnered with Reebok to launch “Reborn in My Kicks,” a limited-edition sneaker collaboration that celebrates women’s resilience through stories of rebuilding, rediscovery, and comeback journeys that redefine strength. The partnership marks a striking evolution of Dove’s commitment to real beauty, and for Reebok, it represents a seamless alignment with its long-standing belief that strength is defined not by perfection, but by perseverance. Together, the brands attempt to take the narrative of self-worth, healing, and empowerment beyond the realms of personal care and sportswear, creating a cultural moment rooted in renewal.
At the heart of “Reborn in My Kicks” is a visual and emotional tribute to transformation, inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi. Traditionally used to repair broken pottery with gold, Kintsugi embraces cracks and breaks as markers of history, resilience, and beauty rather than flaws. This philosophy shapes both the design aesthetic and the deeper purpose of the collection. Every sneaker features sculpted cracks, texture lines, and metallic seams that mimic the gold-filled repairs in Kintsugi. Instead of masking imperfections, the designs celebrate them—turning them into symbols of strength and reminders that scars are proof of survival. In an era where brands often chase perfection, this collaboration reminds consumers that real stories rarely follow smooth, unbroken lines.
For Dove, this collaboration is a natural extension of its pledge to champion real beauty and authenticity. Sairam Subramanian, Vice President – Hair Care at Hindustan Unilever, describes the initiative not just as a campaign, but as a movement. According to him, “Reborn Stronger is more than a campaign; it’s a movement that celebrates the beauty of rebuilding, in hair, in life, and in spirit.” He likens the collaboration with Reebok to the world of sports, where resilience is the backbone of every inspiring narrative. Athletes often find themselves at the intersection of fall and rise, pushing their boundaries and redefining what their bodies—and minds—are capable of. By bringing this philosophy into the fold of Dove’s brand story, the company aims to strengthen its identity as a brand rooted in science, care, and empowerment. Subramanian emphasises that this partnership allows Dove to amplify its vision, bridging the worlds of care and culture through stories of women who transform their setbacks into strength.
Reebok echoes this sentiment with equal conviction. For decades, the brand has been synonymous with athletic grit, self-improvement, and the belief that true strength shows up in moments of adversity. Arjun Ramamoorthy, Brand Head of Reebok India, says the collaboration resonates deeply with the brand’s ethos. “At Reebok, we’ve always believed that strength isn’t defined by how hard you can push but by how many times you rise after being knocked down,” he explains. For Reebok, “Reborn in My Kicks” is a tribute to women who rebuild themselves with courage and grace—women who embody the quiet heroism that comes with choosing to rise again. The partnership with Dove gives Reebok the opportunity to take this message beyond the world of performance sports and into broader cultural spaces, where resilience is lived and felt in countless forms every day.
What sets this collaboration apart is its immersive experience. The sneakers are available online and at select Reebok stores in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi, but the experience doesn’t stop at purchase. Each of these stores houses an in-store Kintsugi workshop—a thoughtful addition that allows customers to experience the meditative process of mending, rebuilding, and restoring. It is an experiential metaphor, reminding participants that beauty emerges in the act of repair, and that healing is an active, creative journey. For many, the workshop will likely be as meaningful as the sneakers themselves, offering a tangible connection to the deeper philosophy behind the campaign.
By anchoring its design and storytelling in Kintsugi, the “Reborn in My Kicks” collection moves beyond product craftsmanship and towards emotional craftsmanship. The cracks are not imperfections; they are design features. The metallic seams are not embellishments; they are affirmations. Each visual detail carries the message that survival is beautiful, and every healed fracture carries its own kind of glow. This is particularly relevant in a cultural moment where women navigate pressures of perfection—at work, at home, and within society. The Dove-Reebok collaboration reminds them that strength is forged in the fires of experience, and that healing does not diminish them; it remakes them.
The story of resilience in this collaboration also speaks to the broader shift in how brands approach empowerment. Rather than relying solely on celebratory rhetoric, Dove and Reebok have chosen a symbol—the Kintsugi-inspired sneaker—that embodies the journey of rebuilding. In a marketplace where authenticity is currency, symbolic product storytelling resonates deeply with consumers seeking meaning in what they wear. Sneakers, once solely an athletic staple, have become markers of identity, culture, and self-expression. This collection’s Kintsugi lines are likely to spark conversations around healing, making them more than footwear—they become wearable stories.
The collaboration also marks a strategic move for both brands in connecting with a younger, socially aware generation. Gen Z and millennial consumers look for brands that champion individuality, mental well-being, and personal growth. By foregrounding resilience as beauty, the “Reborn in My Kicks” campaign offers a narrative that feels emotionally accessible and culturally timely. It taps into a global conversation around self-worth, vulnerability, and strength in adversity. These themes have become central to online communities and advocacy movements, and by engaging with them through design and storytelling, Dove and Reebok position themselves as empathetic, forward-thinking brands.
Beyond the symbolic and emotional layers, the collaboration also reinforces how sport serves as a metaphor for life. Reebok highlights that performance is only one dimension of sport—another lies in the journey, the setbacks, the discipline, the falls, and the determination to rise again. Through “Reborn in My Kicks,” the brand reasserts that every scar—be it physical, emotional, or symbolic—is part of a broader story of becoming. The campaign reframes resilience not as a trait reserved for athletes, but as a universal human experience.
As the limited-edition sneakers make their way into the market, they carry with them the story of two brands attempting to create more than a product—they seek to create a cultural artifact rooted in meaning. Dove brings its legacy of redefining beauty, while Reebok brings its athletic lens of perseverance. Together, they craft a narrative that encourages women to embrace the marks of their journey, to stand tall in their rebuilt selves, and to recognise strength in every healed fracture.
“Reborn in My Kicks” becomes a celebration of the quiet triumphs that often go unnoticed. It reminds women that resilience is not loud or linear; it is steady, transformative, and profoundly beautiful. The collaboration is not just about sneakers or campaigns—it is about honouring the stories etched into every woman who has ever risen after falling. And in that rising, Dove and Reebok find their shared heartbeat: the belief that beauty and strength are reborn, again and again, in the cracks that make us whole.
