United Arrows & Sons of Japan and Italy's Slam Jam were both established in 1989, both growing hugely across Japan and Europe since their early establishment.
Both retailers have grown to become the standard for contemporary fashion within their home countries. In 2017, Adidas Consortium challenges the brands to communicate and collaborate to deliver a conceptual sneaker pack that utilised the Gazelle and the Campus silhouettes.
The focus of the collaboration began with construction and textile and their uses in the creation of great footwear. The result of these conversations is two luxury iterations of Adidas staples, constructed with materials that are both locally sourced and hold regional contexts.
The Campus comes complete with an all-white upper using 100% organic cotton that references high-quality Japanese IKEUCHI ORGANIC toweling. References to comfort and Japanese homely materials provide a contrast to the Japanese custom of removing your outdoor shoes upon entering the house, with the Campus creating an "always at home" feeling.
Organic toweling is once again used on the interior of the off-white Gazelle, with its upper being constructed of Alcantara. The high quality and innovative material founded by Japanese and Italian companies in 1972 represent the coming together of these countries to create a great product.
The material and colour choices within the collaboration are subtle yet eye-catching, using logo detailing on the tongue labels and across the outsole and laces. Design choices are understated, providing classics with a subtle elegance.
Pre-release begins from Sept. 22 at Slam Jam and United Arrows & Sons, with a general release at global Consortium accounts from October 7.
