After their successful A/W’12 collaboration, revered Japanese retailer mita have joined forces with Adidas once again to produce a carefully considered selection of iconic silhouettes finished to exquisite, premium standard.

The collection consists of the Tokyo-based sneaker don’s favourite archival styles, each being subtly reworked with appreciative nods to heritage and classic sneaker design. The first shoe from the collection is the reappearance of Campus 80. A solid favourite with mita, the team have taken last year’s collaborative effort and given it a more ‘street goth’ aesthetic, with black suede uppers accentuated by sparkling ‘metal’ silver zig-zag stripes. The second shoe, a Superstar 80′s, utilises classic elements from the OG design with original features such as “La marque aux 3 bandes” decal on the tongue. Constructed from premium black leather, the shoe is given a monotone look with contrast white stripes. Both models feature oxidised ‘vintage’ sole units, highlighting its place as an archive classic. The vintage effect dying process also adds a new dynamic to the shoe, meaning that it will only get stronger as the uppers begin to age, developing a character of their own.

The collection is rounded off by the classic Tobacco, a real favourite here at End. The shoe has a huge cult following, especially on the terraces, where it’s slim, sleek silhouette lends itself well to most ensembles. Mita’s premium, vintage suede reworking is completed by an archival gum sole unit which seperates the shoe subtly from the rest of the collaboration. As with the A/W’12 colab, every style features a cork insole which has a printed wire fence pattern overlay, referencing adidas’ standing within a myriad of subcultures.

The Adidas x Mita SS’13 Collection launches Wednesday 30th January, 2013. To register your interest, please email us or call the store on +44 191 231 3983.
 

 

 

 

Following on from the first drop, the Adidas Consortium ‘Your Story’ series continues to collaborate with an eclectic mix of artists and designers to bring you five freshly reworked versions of some of Adidas’ most celebrated styles.

As like Drop 1, the second part of the series takes its main influence from A/W ’11 ‘Tabula Rasa’ series with five prominent creatives – again, all of which are from Olympic host cities – developing the ‘blank slate’ of five classic trainers into a games-inspired pack. Utilising the same premium approach as the Tabula Rasa collection with careful consideration given to the choice of materials and finishes, each style combining an intrinsic eye for detail with the designer’s own memories from Olympic Games gone by.

Similarly this drop reworks the same five profiles as drop one. London-based photographer Shaniqwa Jarvis lends memories of her childhood swimteam to a bold interpretation of the ZX500, utlising perforated suede pool blue uppers accented with a dip-dyed lace set inspired by lane dividers at her local pool. In contrast, Swedish sock-aficionado Viktor Tell drew inspiration from an unlikely source in the form a Swedish Air Rifle champion, references to which are scattered throughout his reworking of the simple Matchplay. As with his brand Happy Socks, Tell’s use of eye-catching patterns and colour adorn the trainer, with a pair of his trademark socks and a gregarious set of laces packed away with the shoes.

Dutch illustrator Stefan Glerum reworks what appears to be a very subdued version of the Decade Hi, with a colourway inspired by the Amsterdam city flag. However, the trainer has Glerum’s stamp all over it with hidden away illustrations showcasing the spirit of the Olympic Games as well his undeniable sense of humour with what appears to be a fuller-figured woman attempting to Pole Vault on the sole. Subdued however, is a word that would be lost on Londoner Kara Messina. Her version of the Pro Shell is possibly the most bold and daring out of the whole collection. Melding together her eye for men’s streetwear – something her label Y’OH is famed for – with her inspiration from Grime, Hip Hop and African culture, the design represents the multi-cultural presence in both the Olympics and everyday London life. The shoe is defined by a authentic tribal print across the uppers with a strong detailing throughout.

The last trainer from the collection is Adidas’ own reworking of the classic BC profile. Designed to represent their involvement in the last 20 Olympic Games, its takes it’s inspiration from the original Olympia with a simple white and black colourway adorning the ‘Baltic Cup’ trainer. The iconic Olympic rings are featured on the lace tips but what makes this trainer unique is the 20 different sock liners, with each pair assigned two random liners that showcase key performance sectors from each Olympic year.

The Adidas Consortium ‘Your Story’ Drop 2 is available from Saturday June 16th, 2012. To register your interest, please email us.

In the annals of sneaker history, the Adidas Campus 80 should surely go down as one of the most underrated styles of all time. Originally named the ‘Tournament’, the Campus 80 was regarded as a basketball trainer but has always had its place in an array of subcultures. Revered for its simple styling and effortless use of premium materials, the Campus 80 garnered a reputation as a staple trainer for skaters and B-Boys alike, a reputation that was only enhanced when Mike D casually sported a pair on the Beastie Boys album cover for ‘Check Your Head’.

This rich-yet-understated history of the Campus 80 has lead to the fantastic collaboration between Adidas and Japanese sneaker-dons MITA. Heralded as one of Tokyo’s most celebrated stores, MITA consistently produce high-end collaborations that not only thrust classic styles into the 21st century, but sympathetically adhere to their history, the Campus 80 being no exception. Available in two colourways – Black & University Red and Cardinal & Running White – this collaborative reworking utilises premium pigskin suede uppers that accentuate the simple profile of the shoe. The detailing is authentically simple, with a tonal lace set and white leather stripe and heel tab adding a fresh appeal.

The real talking point is the trainer’s sole unit, treated to give the trainer a vintage look, highlighting its place as an archive classic. The vintage effect dying process also adds a new dynamic to the shoe which will only get stronger as the uppers begin to age and develop a character of their own. Finishing off the trainer is a cork insole which has a printed wire fence pattern overlay, referencing the popularity of the Campus 80 within urban subcultures.

The Adidas x MITA Campus 80 is available from May 25th, 2012. To register your interest, email us and stipulate the colourway you would like…

The second part of the highly anticipated ‘Adidas Archive Pack’ launches at midnight tonight. The pack sees Adidas delve deep into their archives to resurrect some much loved and missed classics. The second part of the pack features updated colourways in the Kopenhagen, Handball 5-Plug and Indoor Gazelle, aswell as the welcome return of the Achill.

The pack launches at midnight tonight (31st August)….