New in Store Saturday 5.19.12

New Adidas Consortium in Store Saturday 5.19.12.

When Adidas Originals brought Consortium back for FW11, the slate was wiped clean giving a fresh start to the premium range. It also paved the way for the next collection as they invited creative partners to fill in the canvas.
With the whole globe turning its focus on the Olympics, the partners were asked to take inspiration from their own Olympic memories from the past, and translate these for the Consortium SS12 collection. The designers were chosen from Olympic cities around the world, from Tokyo to Amsterdam, and each told their story using a silhouette selected from the Consortium FW11 collection.
Consortium SS12 is as diverse as the cultures engaged with the Olympics itself. Each sneaker’s Consortium loop tag features an Olympic coloured eyelet on the inside of the tongue, tying the collection together harmoniously.
Consortium's next installment promises to bring a diverse offering to its followers, whilst maintaining the impeccable quality and attention to detail that it's known for.

Drop One:
ZX 500 x Quote

ZX 500 Before

Berlin native and sneaker collector Quote is passionate about the ZX 500 running silhouette and brings his enthusiasm to the table to design his own version for Consortium 2012. This version remains loyal to the '80s original using a mix of nylon and mesh throughout. Quote's muted colour-way is directly influenced by the blue and white track of the Berlin Olympic Stadium, where his favourite football team are based and a place he spends a lot of his time in, with the pertinent Olympic colours thrown in on the outsole. On the inside of the tongue's fabric loop tag sits a fist tattooed with Quote's namesake.

ZX 500 After

Matchplay x J. Thompson

Matchplay Before

Such an understated sneaker like the Matchplay needs to be treated with finesse and Jim Thompson of Sydney label Three Over One has done just that, sticking to his uncomplicated design aesthetic. Thompson's own style is heavily influenced by the past; from the worn-in workmanship right down to the attitude and it's all evident in his interpretation of the Matchplay for Consortium SS12. Thompson looked back to the adidas archives of track and field shoes from the '30s as inspiration, and has used very subtle waxed leather on most of the upper which gives it a vintage look. A matching pigskin suede toebox shows impeccable attention to detail while the lack of lining gives it a handcrafted feel.

Matchplay After

 


Pro Shell X DJ Muro

Pro Shell Before

DJ Muro has partnered up with adidas Originals to create a bold and, as he describes it, 'aggressive' version of the Pro Shell with its strong and deep colour choices of dark green, black and pops of red. Overall, Muro's Pro Shell is understated, but bursts of detail are found throughout, like the jersey material covering the ankle padding that features engineered stripes reminiscent of a track top's cuff. Additionally, Muro's modus operandi can be found on the laces, snakeskin-effect is used on the 3-stripes and unfastening of the velcro reveals bright colours underneath. A Muro skull and crossbones logo sits on the heel for a tough looking street shoe that represents Tokyo for Consortium SS12.

Pro Shell After

 

New in Store Saturday 11.26.11

adidas Originals' Consortium New in Store Saturday 11.26.11.

The Darkside Initiative proudly announces their partnership with adidas Originals' Consortium.

After a brief hiatus, adidas Originals' Consortium returns with an impressive revival inspired by the Latin term, "Tabula Rasa" (meaning “blank slate”), giving Consortium a new beginning and future. In reestablishing Consortium, adidas Originals strips back to basics with a palette of natural white tones finished in premium materials, creating a perfect blank canvas for the new Consortium program. 

With a mind to set the clock back to zero, adidas Originals reached into its archives for classic silhouettes, namely the Pro Shell, Decade, ZX 500, Matchplay and BC, and reissued these in authentic one-to-one interpretations. Shoes and materials have been kept raw and natural, as authentic and close to their original predecessors as possible. 

In addition to stripping the collection of colours to give Consortium a fresh start and clean departure from the past, adidas Originals also paid meticulous attention to artistry and quality of materials. Premium leathers are consistent across all silhouettes with generous use of super-soft suede, nubuck and pigskin.

All of the collection features the same waxed laces, metal lace tips, embossed sockliner, suede tongue and thick threading that gives the entire range a superior handcrafted feel. Leather has been intentionally left unfinished and the interiors are unlined to expose the impeccable construction of the uppers. The tongue houses a fabric loop tag secured by an eyelet, adding a touch of subtle detailing that will be featured in all future Consortium offerings. 

From the shedding of colors to the raw, unfinished leather, adidas Originals translated the idea of "Tabula Rasa" into FW11 Consortium, letting the assured and unadorned collection serve as a canvas for new things to come.

Matchplay

Matchplay Detail

MATCHPLAY
A classic tennis shoe and occasionally known as the Arthur Ashe signature model, the Matchplay’s aesthetic has always been about understated elegance.

For Consortium FW11, the Matchplay is pared down further; the minimalist silhouette features full premium nubuck upper in a natural white tone, as well as a pimple outsole.

BC

BC Detail

BC
The BC is a lesser-known shoe from the adidas archives, its name deriving from the most important handball tournament held between 1968 and 1989: the Baltic Cup. Built for the courts, the original was released in the early ‘70s but it was during the ‘80s that the model really took off.
Reissued for the first time in this season’s Consortium, the BC’s upper is predominately made of pigskin, while the serrated 3-stripes and heel tab feature soft supple leather. More serrated patterning is featured around the entire midsole, while mini Trefoil motifs cover the outsole, reflecting the classic BC archive.

ZX 500

ZX 500 Detail

ZX 500
Arguably one of the most advanced running shoes at its time of release, the ZX 500 has been a much-loved style from the get go. Since its release in the early ‘80s, a tremendously wide range of colourways have been created.

Stripping it right back to the original construction and shape, Consortium FW11 has given the shoe a neat and classic upgrade. The sneaker is made with a blend of materials, including pigskin suede, super soft leather and nylon mesh, resulting in a very subtle range of textures and tones. The Ghillie lacing system also gives it a special twist, a quintessential characteristic of this smart runner’s shoe.