There is often a thin line that blurs fashion and art. adidas new collaboration with the artist Daniel Arsham draws this line firmly in the sand.
A recent unveiling of the adidas Original x Daniel Arsham interactive installation at IMBOLDN favorite Kith NYC and the first installment of Arsham’s short-film Hourglass serve as a dialog for this new sneaker release. Arsham apes adidas’ distinct urban silhouette with this seriously cool shoe.
Inspired by the original adidas New York running shoe that defined 1980s sportswear, Arsham, himself a New York native and product of the 1980s, reinvents the iconic model. A paneled construction and an EVA midsole that incorporates Dellinger mesh encasing add an element of newness while still staying true to the original silhouette.
In line with Arsham’s vision, the sneaker is an homage to the original New York though in a more pared down, minimalist style. Unique materials and a more undone construction take the classic three-stripe back to its roots. The shoes’ all white, monochromatic scheme is a further nod to its pure simplicity.
Much like the found objects that resonate throughout Arsham’s work, the shoes are crafted out of rough cut canvas, with fraying edges displaying an element of disruption and unadorned aesthetic. Arsham has included further messages in the design, with an inscribed phone number on the heel patch that matches the previous campaign. “The past is present” is scrawled on the midsole, but only visible under ultra violet light along with the stitching on the characteristic three-stripes.