Even the most hardcore football haters out there could not have failed to noticed that we are only a matter of days away from the 19th Football World Cup in South Africa, with every advert, tv programme, website and newspaper seemingly talking up the tournament at every opportunity. Adidas are obviously going to be a huge part of the tournament, making the kits and boots worn and the controversial Jabulani ball that will be used in all World Cup matches, however Consortium have, as ever, chosen to think a little outside the box.
Back in May Consortium organised their own global AdiCup mini tournament, featuring teams from four International regions, all competing for a place in the global finals, at Adidas HQ, Herzogenaurach, on June 26th. To celebrate this great idea to unite worldwide Consortium partners, each region has it’s own pack, including a pair of shoes, a kit bag and a jersey, which each final placed team will wear on June 26th. Collaborators from the UK, EU, Asia and US have teamed up to give there own versions of Adidas silhouettes new and old.
The shoe chosen is a new design, the Votary is based on the famous Copa Mundial and World Cup boots, including the fold-down tongue, styled so that they can be worn on the streets and terraces. The transparent sole is reminiscent of the Gazelle Indoor with the Adidas World Cup’s famous sole markings underneath. Each version is triple-branded in a colour way that matches the retro kit bag and vintage inspired jersey that completes the pack.
EU partners Highsnobiety and No74 based their kit on the kit worn by the West German team in the 1986 World Cup, with a reworked team badge. Masterpiece Sounds and Houyhnhnm Magazine, add Reggae-inspired colours to a classic France jersey, while UNDFTD and Arkitip mix the famous stripes of Argentina’s 1978 jersey with the dark blue of the current US kit. Finally, the UK partners, No.6 and Exit magazine, base their jersey on the polygonal patterns of the USSR and Holland Kits of the 80s, but in a more English light blue, with some great sleeve detail.
This release is hugely limited, with only 300 of each pack available world wide, with an extra special final pack set for a July release to celebrate both the World and Adi Cup finals. These are not to be missed, a great example of what Consortium have been doing so well for years now.
