adidas Originals x SPEZIAL Autumn/Winter 2014
adidas Originals x SPEZIAL is a new capsule collection of clothing and footwear that came out of the excitement around the first adidas ‘SPEZIAL’ gallery exhibition in London in 2013. The exhibition was a celebration of the adidas brand by showcasing the product collections of some of its most passionate fans – the name ‘SPEZIAL’ has since come to represent the very essence of the adidas brand to fans and collectors.
The project was curated by long time, 3 stripe devotee Gary Aspden. After the overwhelming response to the exhibition he put forward an idea to work with the adidas team in Herzogenaurach to come up with a new, archive inspired, adidas Originals capsule collection of clothing and footwear. From this proposal the adidas Originals x SPEZIAL range was born. “Growing up in the north west of England in the 70s and 80s adidas was (and still is) the brand we all gravitated towards. I have been a fan ever since. I grew up loving the sophistication of European sportswear brands.
The adidas Originals x SPEZIAL collection is about identifying and utilizing those elements (beyond the three stripes) of the adidas design personality that are unique to this brand. We have re-worked those elements to create twenty first century products that have echoes of the brand’s rich history. It taps into the spirit of the brand’s core identity and presents it in a new context. Given the depth of adidas’ archive I felt the job was as much to curate a range as to design one. I am confident it will appeal to the mindset of the most hardened adidas fans whilst presenting another side of this very diverse brand to a whole new audience. “Gary Aspden - curator/designer - adidas Originals x SPEZIAL
The adidas Originals x SPEZIAL range is not solely about the engineered science of pure performance sportswear, the high fashion of luxury brands or the nostalgia for one to one vintage reproductions. adidas Originals x SPEZIAL is a modern collection that pays its dues to all these areas without being dedicated to any of them.
Whilst adidas is fundamentally a sportswear company, it has always had a rich history in leisurewear dating back over 40 years to the era of Adi Dassler himself. The adidas Originals x SPEZIAL clothing and footwear range provides an updated, contemporary and premium vision of adidas’ often overlooked history in this area.
Launching late October the debut Autumn/Winter 14 collection includes twelve iconic vintage adidas apparel pieces (e.g. the Beckenbauer tracksuit) that are re-designed and re-invented in premium fabrics and modern cuts.
The footwear takes four classic adidas silhouettes and tweaks them whilst retaining the brand’s DNA. The upper patterns are re-worked and new hybrid shoes marrying up different elements of much loved iconic styles are created.
‘The Autumn Winter 2014 adidas Originals x SPEZIAL look book. Shot by Steve Toner of Exit Magazine and art directed by Mark Jubber. The look book marries up this premium, archive inspired adidas Originals collection with backdrops of Steve Toner’s landscape photography archive.'
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