COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: Adidas Originals = Pharrell Williams
Is Basically Perfect
Is Basically Perfect
September 19, 2014
As a rule, The Shophound doesn't pay that much attention to celebrity fashion collaborations, but every now and then, one appears that makes us take notice. Adidas Originals = Pharrell Williams is set be released in stores tomorrow and online, and though it is a small capsule of items, its canny restraint in design makes a major impact.
There are no garish designs and distracting custom logos are kept to a discreet minimum. The first delivery (more items will arrive in October, November and December) consists of two items in three colors with small but transformative tweaks. The classic Superstar Track Jacket (pictured above) is a familiar style executed in soft Napa leather in black, red or blue. It shouldn't be too surprising to see it in the line, because Pharrell has been wearing versions of it all year long. It is pretty much perfect in its simplicity. Even the Adidas trefoil logo has been relegated to the label inside for a sleek, minimalistic bomber identified only by the signature three stripes on the shoulder and sleeves. The next item is the Stan Smith tennis shoe also in Napa leather and in the same three colors (pictured in the gallery below) with only the collaboration's clever "equal sign" insignia on the heel. This particular classic model has been the subject of a stunningly successful marketing effort on the part of Adidas that has transformed it from a beloved basic sleeper style to a must-have icon, and this should only extend its popularity.
Pharrrell comes to collaboration with a lot more fashion cred than your average pop star. Before he was the "Happy" hitmaking solo performer, he had spent quite a bit of time and effort moonlighting from his music production duties to build his own fashion empire collaborating with cult designers and insider favorites like Nigo and Mark McNairy to create the Billionaire Boys Club, Ice Cream and Bee Line labels among other projects. He had already been well ingratiated with the fashion crowd before he turned that Vivienne Westwood hat into a meme, so there are a lot of style minded folks waiting for this little team up to become available who may not even care that much about Pharrell's music.
The shoes will retail for $150 —about double the price of your basic Stan Smiths due to the more luxurious materials— and the jacket will ring up at —take a deep breath— $1,000. Well, that might take some of the wind out of you sails, but consider it an investment in a collectors item —and start saving up. The line will be available globally tomorrow at select sneaker stores and Adidas Originals flagship stores as well as online.
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