The proliferation of track suits made its way not just to tongue-in-cheek editorials hoping to preface their higher-end stories with urban streetwear but to music videos and even album covers. Almost every Missy Elliot video featured the rapper’s uniform Adidas sweats. For his "Rudebox" album, Robbie Williams collaborated with the label to create custom tracksuits for the cover. Three versions of the suit went on sale at Adidas Originals stores in locations like Hong Kong, Copenhagen and Berlin.
Collaborations play a big part in a label that prides itself on being one with the people. Missy took her urban hip-hop roots to a new collection and created a selection of wearable, feminine pieces with a hyper urban edge. Stella McCartney famously took on the arduous task of dressing women for the yoga mat and came up with fashionable, almost ethereal sportswear that was both chic and practical with its muted palette of gray and neon pink.
Tennis, sailing and golf inspired Freizeit, a range of casual footwear and apparel for Adidas. Taking on the hyper-stylish worlds of the tennis court and golf course resulted in preppy styles not far from the country club circuit. Pastels and stripes are popular while nautical references return.
For the latest Sport Heritage collection, Adidas revisited past collections and referenced vintage icons. According to Coolhunter, the site for all things fashion forward, "Back in the ‘70s Adidas had a brief, yet fruitful affair with a ski instructor named Carlo Gruber. Their love children, inspired by Austrian high-fashion ski wear, were chic garments that looked hot on the slopes, in the lodge and over the runways. As love children often do, they unfortunately disappeared from the scene rather quickly."
Now ski-lovers and snow-angel makers can once again enjoy the collection with Adidas’ re-interpretation of the series featuring the same colorful knitwear that put this series on the vintage map. Bold patterns, not unlike the ‘80s-inspired primary colored blocks we’ve seen on the catwalk, make an appearance alongside classic Adidas Originals like Premium Basics, select sportswear distinctly set in the label’s iconic styles. Refined detail and stylish construction are some of the keywords for this collection.
The label’s homage to all things vintage has made them current. For Adidas, the past is clearly present.