Pound the Pavement with P.O.D. Systems

June 15, 2018

This week, adidas lead us all the way to London, for the unveiling of their latest lifestyle runner— a combination of their classic BOOST heel technology taken to new heights, by way of an all-new adaptation, titled, P.O.D. (Point of Deflection).

Having maintained star status when it comes to “sole technology” ever since the brand’s initial introduction of the BOOST sole, now the brand has brought back an archival BOOST— although this time, it has been powered by the P.O.D. System.

The best of BOOST, AKA P.O.D. System is a bridge-like structure that has been integrated into the shoe’s sole. It uses intensive, three-dimensional cushioning technology to provide “shock absorption” protecting the heels and offering strengthened overall stability for the foot.

Images courtesy of adidas

Media attendees invited to the launch met at the adidas Originals flagship in Shoreditch where we heard from Morgan Boeri (Vice President of Footwear) and Remy Eyraud (Design Director, adidas Originals) about the creative approach and design process, both Morgan, and Remy expressing that best part of creating this new innovation of P.O.D. was watching so many different ideas come together into a tangible product reflective of all those ideas.

In a similar experience to the designers at adidas, the attendees were treated to a makers-lab experience where we were able to select material from an array of adidas shoe components, including the BOOST sole, bridge, and forefoot that make up the P.O.D. System, in order to make our own shoe. During the makerslab, you could really see what Morgan and Remy were speaking to in their presentation about their process in creating the current P.O.D. System. Here we were, a room full of creative individuals with knowledge of what we wanted to see in a shoe, combining that with the proper instruments and a collaborative mindset to create something special.

Look out for footwear’s new-kid-on-the-block in stores and online, starting June 16th.

Sport

adidas Originals by Daniëlle Cathari

February 13, 2018

It was this time last year when we first met Danielle Cathari—she had been selected to debut her designs at VFILES' NYFW show.

At just 22 years old and still a fashion student, Cathari developed a dynamic range of deconstructed vintage Adidas tracksuits, the new streetwear uniform. This year, she's pulled off an ever bigger feat: an Adidas Originals collaboration.

The collection is comprised of four reworked vintage Adidas "city tracksuits" which come in four different colorways representing four major cities: New York is orange, London is blue, Paris is yellow, and Shanghai is pink. Additionally, there was the black and white version in which Kendall Jenner, the Adidas Originals brand ambassador, so eloquently modeled.

It seems that there's simply no stopping this young designer— and while we checked out her new collection, office got a chance to catch up with Cathari, and chat about adidas, and what could be next.

Interview by Anna Zanes
Photos courtesy of adidas

How has your practice changed since you first spoke to us?

My process of deconstruction hasn’t changed but what has changed is the access to materials and resources that have been available to me by collaborating with adidas. In the past I was limited to the vintage adidas track suits I could find and for my collection with adidas Originals I had the freedom to creatively explore new ideas and really expand upon my technique and discipline as a designer.

Where do you want your brand to go next? How do you hope to build on your initial concept of deconstructing tracksuits?

My work is always evolving and I still have so much to learn. I’m working on my own brand and collection now. I’ll always be experimenting with the idea of unexpected contrasts whether it be colors, fabrics and silhouettes.

Why adidas?

Because it’s just so iconic. Three stripes, the tricot fabric. Simple, yet strong.

How did you approach casting?

I wanted to work with real and authentic girls who could extend the collection with their appearance. It was important for me to choose girls who projected a sense of individuality and confidence and who ultimately would end up wearing the collection. The collection is really for everyone.

Now that you had the presentation— how do you feel!? How did you celebrate?

Relieved but also super excited for what’s to come. This was an amazing experience and one I will be forever grateful for. I celebrated over a family style dinner with my adidas family!

Sport

Adidas x Bristol BYW

February 06, 2018

Luke Tadashi, founder of Bristol Studio fuses forces with adidas for a collaboration on their cutting-edge Boost You Wear Crazy Sneakers. This iteration is inspired by both Tadashi's love for basketball, and a blend of family nostalgia— an appropriate element to add to this new adidas style, with its wonderfully heavy-handed 90's aesthetic approach.

Made in Los Angeles and constructed of Japanese fabrics, the sneakers display a combination of familiarity and quality, finding a subtle way to work in personal refrences. His family's pilgrimage to the United States from Japan which appear as the well crafted, while rugged, exterior of the shoe, a sleek way to use streetwear, while speaking to the struggles and successes of establishing oneself, elsewhere. This is a balanced shoe: footwear for basketball, but with a focused, avant-garde aesthetic, as appropriate for Gen-Z trendsetters as it is fashionably accessible to their grandmothers.

The shoes will be available during All Star Weekend in adidas Consortium Stores and Nice Kicks LA.

Media courtesy of adidas

Sport

Y-3: Yes Times Three

February 02, 2018

It’s amazing how powerful a straight line can be. No one understands this more than Yohji Yamamoto and adidas, who combine forces to create the razor-sharp brand Y-3, where cultivated simplicity merges with kinetic swagger in the second chapter of the brand’s drop for Spring/Summer 2018— seamlessly captured in the slick campaign, shot by Alessio Bolzoni and styled by Mauricio Nardi.

Ease and mobility define a sports brand. The clothes in this latest installment move like liquid, breezily flowing while remaining cunning and clear. Colors and cuts are simple and lucid, with graphic pops of a curious cobra gazing perplexed at a bit of Franglais text that it obscures — is it about to strike? Or being tamed by a song? #possibilities.