Adidas Group North America has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with DuPont Protection Technologies to use its Kevlar technology and brand in a line of new football cleats.

Best known for its use in ballistic and stab-resistant body armor, the Kevlar brand is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Over the past five decades the brand has been extended to everything from industrial protective clothing to fiber optic cables and even consumer products such as mobile phones and tires. Kevlar Earthbound Brands represents Kevlar for licensing in North America.

“This partnership between Adidas and DuPont is a great example of the power of the DuPont Kevlar brand, and its ability to lend best-in-class technology to the products it touches,” says Jeff Cohen, chief executive officer, Earthbound Brands.

Adidas has previewed the first items in the line, which features cleat plates that are reinforced with Kelvar, and the full line will launch at retail later this year. Among the limited edition preview collection was the Stand Freak x Kevlar Black History Month shoe, available now on the Adidas website and at retailers across the U.S. including Eastbay, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Footlocker.

“Adidas Football is always looking to balance performance and protection,” says Jeff McGillis, senior director, Adidas Football. “We build the lightest cleats in the industry to make every player on the field faster. DuPont Kevlar fiber optimizes both player safety and the lightweight playability of the Adizero 5-Star X with Kevlar and the Freak X with Kevlar.”