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Adidas introduced a new runner on the market this month—the SL Loop Runner— which draws inspiration from the brand's archival silhouettes. To bring some extra buzz to the sneaker, adidas collaborated with boutique Wish ATL on the SL Loop Runner that took some design cues from something we all use: money. The store, which is located at what used to be the first Carnegie Library in Atlanta, is unlike any other sneaker spot. Creative director, buyer, and designer of Wish ATL Frank Cooke broke down all the details of the collab, so check out Everything You Need to Know About Wish ATL x adidas SL Loop Runner.
Frank Cooke wanted to flip the idea of a Fourth of July sneaker.
The sneakers first dropped last week, on America's birthday, but Cooke opted not to make the sneaker a festive red, white, and blue. "I didn't want to do the typical, stars and stripes that people usually do for the 4th. That's just really cliché, 'ya know," he said. "I started thinking, and I know they're signing the Declaration of Independence on the back of of the $2 bill. And I did a little bit of research and I found out that Atlanta is the only city right now that is printing $2 bills in current circulation. So, it tied back to the city, it tied back to the 4th of July. I've always looked at the dollar bill, not just the $2 bill, but the dollar bill in general. And how that webbing on the bill was so precise and intricate. I was like, man, this webbing design on the back of the dollar bill is so sick if you really look at it. So I started playing around with different patterns and seeing how I could incorporate that webbing and I worked with Josh Herr at adidas and he just perfected my initial design."
Why adidas?
"Adidas came to me and they wanted to put some energy behind the SL Loop silhouette as they were introducing it into the market," Cooke said. "I think this was different because just wanting to work with adidas, as a kid seeing RUN DMC in that whole movement. They had people in the Garden just holding up their adidas. I knew I had to put a lot of passion behind it, and I knew that I really wanted to make it perfect."
Working with the SL Loop's upper was the hardest part of the collab.
"We were a little concerned on how it was going to translate on the printed mesh. But once we did a sample and got it back, it was all good. That's what I was scared of, I can't lie," Cooke said.
There are subtle hints of 3M on the shoes.
Adding a touch reflective material to a design is never a bad thing. Such was the case with the Wish ATL SL Loop, which used the it to help tell the $2 bill story. "Not a lot of people know that the tabs on the laces and on the back loop are 3M reflective," Cooke said. "So, if you really took a shot of them, with the flash on, you can really see the 3M detail."
The launch party featured a LOT of $2 bills
With anything good, you've got to celebrate in style. Adidas decked out Wish's Atlanta boutique with decals, displays, and about $4,000 worth of real $2 bills spread out on the floor. It also featured an appearance from Mr. $2 Bill himself, Steve Reisman. "He brought a lot of energy. People wanted to meet him and he threw a ton of $2 bills. People had him autographing the $2 bills. It was good to see the city of the Atlanta appreciate it," Cooke said.
If you missed out on last week's drop, you'll have a chance to cop on July 11.
We know how hard it can be when you want a sneaker that only releases in one specific store. Well, Frank knows, too. "That's another thing I like to do, I like to spread love to other cities. So, all the top tier doors will be dropping them this week, on Friday. You have Concepts, Major, Shoe Gallery, Bodega, all those top doors are carrying them," Cooke said. "I'm blessed that those dudes would ever support me and releasing my shoe. I can't do it with out them."
Wish ATL's next collab will be..
Can't stop, won't stop. Wish ATL isn't done creating and they're bringing back a classic. "We haven't set an official date, but it's going to be coming late August or early September. We're working with Fila on a Grant Hill model," Cooke said. "I think people are really going to enjoy it. I just want to get it out there and bring something different. I just hope people can rock with my vision. The story behind it, is going to be really good," Cooke said.
