Not Suitable for Exercise: Raf Simons for adidas

raf simons for adidas 2014 spring summer collection 4 copy

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raf simons for adidas 2014 spring summer collection 4 copy

Raf Simons for adidas S/S 14 has landed, surprising us all with running shoes that resemble robots from the '80s, a couch on wheels, and a Nerf ball— stripping the shoes of any functional potential. (Those suspension soles though!)

While the shoes might look surprising, the concept is not. Almost every time a designer is given a performance shoes as a starting point, the artistic overcomes the practical to reveal a clunker of a shoe. The only collaborations that have resulted in functional products include Stella McCartney's progressive collection with adidas or Undercover's Gyaksou x Nike Running, as both designers let the functional components of design lead the creative process.

When is a designer going to produce a pair of performance shoes that preserves the original purpose of the shoes but enhances the appearance?

If you know of any, let us know. We're still waiting for some of our favorite brands to converge—Brooks Running x Alexander Wang, anyone?

[Hypebeast]

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