WALES BONNER CAPTURES HER OWN JAMAICAN HERITAGE IN OUR FIRST COLLABORATIVE COLLECTION

After having first previewed on the runway during London Fashion Week in January 2020, we are now launching our first collaborative collection with Wales Bonner. 

Heralded as one of her generation’s brightest talents, Wales Bonner is a cultural polymath who sees fashion as an intuitive means to understanding a multiplicity of perspectives, proposing a distinct notion of luxury, via a hybrid of European and Afro-Atlantic approaches. For Fall/Winter 2020, the designer brings together literary and musical references with exceptional craftsmanship to produce a collection that explores 1970s subcultures from the perspective of Caribbean youth in London. Reimagining adidas’ sporting and lifestyle heritage through the lens of Wales Bonner’s inimitable take on modern menswear, the inaugural realisation of the collaboration blends timeless aesthetics with elegant sportswear aesthetics. 

Speaking on the collaboration, Wales Bonner explains “It was amazing to get into the archive with adidas, and really study how it has been interpreted by different cultures across times. I was interested in elevating the familiar, and bringing an eveningwear and tailored sensibility to this essential collection. 

Inspired by the designer’s own Jamaican heritage, the collection features a number of beautifully crafted apparel pieces. Central to this apparel offering is a trio of hybrid adidas tracksuits, each one rooted in the classic 3-Stripes trademark and reimagined with craft details such as crochet stripes and oversized ribbing. Meanwhile, a Yellow long sleeve football jersey and a Multicolor knit roll neck serve as an ode to timeless 1970s style. Rounding out the selection are two soft cotton tees with satin sleeves; one in Blue and one in Brown.

Then, moving to footwear, the collection features Wales Bonner’s take on the SL72 silhouette and two different versions of the iconic adidas Samba sneaker. First up, the SL72 Wales Bonner  captures the spirit of the 1970s with a corduroy upper matched with rich velvet and antique leather overlays, all sat atop a tricolor rubber outsole. Drawing on the inspiration of the collection, this carefully considered update to a timeless classic is available in Trace Pink/Collegiate Orange/Maroon and Hemp/Maroon/Forest Green colorways. Next a Core Black/Cream White colorway sees Wales Bonner elevate the classic Samba sneaker with crochet and hand-stitched details, as well as an elongated tongue which extends over the laces. Meanwhile, a Cream White/Brown colorway reimagines the Samba silhouette with a raw cotton upper, hand stitched details, velvet laces, and a translucent rubber outsole. 

Launching alongside the collection is a visual campaign shot by long term collaborator Harley Weir as well as a film by Durimel. 

Inspired by the Jamaican and Caribbean community’s cross cultural influence, the adidas Originals by Wales Bonner Fall/Winter 2020 collection is available globally on November 20th at adidas.com and through select retailers.