In stores beginning February 2014, the adidas Originals Blue collection is a premium apparel and footwear line intertwining adidas’s impeccable lifestyle heritage with a luxury street aesthetic. Mixing functional sport utilitarianism with street attitude, the SS14 collection perfectly combines the two sartorial disciplines by focusing on versatile trainers and clothes.
Looking ahead to next year’s football tournament in Brazil, the SS14 collection draws inspiration from ‘the beautiful game’, while summer prints and patterns are influenced by Brazil’s general geographical location and climate. The hype surrounding the tournament is juxtaposed with an earlier wave of classic football aesthetics as we investigate how 90s rave culture made football jerseys a lifestyle norm and wardrobe staple.
This casual look is contrasted with sophisticated and tailored ideas from the preppy 1960s; water-repellent fabrics and seam-sealing technology form the sensible foundation on which teenage rave influences and football-inspired print stories are unleashed through neon colours and lizard prints. The versatile and street-ready sportswear is defined by Chile 62 apparel fabric in women’s apparel and lizard-printed garments inspired by 90s adidas basketball footwear.
For men, football jerseys and knitwear inspired by vintage football jerseys mix with multi-layered and seam-sealed blazers and oxford shirts with lizard print inserts. Trainers made out of exotic leathers, like the female Tech Super Hiddenwedge and male Streetball shoe models, bring a sense of luxury to the game.
With Brazil’s football tournament imminent, we look towards the South American jungles for print inspiration – as well as using literal football influences, like the Tango print inspired by the classic adidas football. Meanwhile, the ‘Crazy Tango’ pattern is played out against subtle football dots. The jungle print comes in both contrast and tonal versions on safari-inspired M65 jackets and long tunics.
There’s a strong sense of functional versatility in the SS14 collection, utilising technical details like water-repellent fabrics and premium lightweight ClimaLite materials. At the same time, French terry towelling sweatshirts and voluminous cotton garments add comfort, while sleeveless tops and jackets with multiple pockets represent agility and functionality.
The footwear is defined by re-imagined classics, like the Women’s Stan Smith Platform Sandal and the Jabbar Mid in jungle print. Reinforcing the sporty football theme, certain models feature iconic design details but are updated with 21st century running technology, such as heel stabilisers and web blocking.
You must be logged in to post a comment.