ADIDAS | made for tokyo

ADIDAS | superstar 80s made for tokyo
10th anniversary of originals in tokyo

Release Date: December 19, 2011
General Info: Following up the success of the 10th Anniversary Made For Berlin ZX9000 it was time to celebrate 10 years of Originals in Tokyo. From the beginning it was clear that we would choose a Superstar 80s for the project as it is our most iconic silhouette as well as the general love for the shoe in Tokyo. I wanted to draft off of Japanesse styling by bringing in innovative outdoor details and creating a dark refined aesthetic with discerning attention to finesse. This was ideal as the shell toe has the built in toe protection you would find on approach footwear. It was also important to effortlessly combine natural elements with technical function.

To start this process I sat down with the Adidas Outdoor team to have some insight and a look into the technologies that they could provide. During this I found a few elements that I knew would take the Superstar 80s into brand new territory. First was the EVA tongue top. Designed for comfort and for a superior fit, the EVA tongue top was molded to conform to the dorsum of the foot. The Adidas Outdoor team was set to launch a new tongue top with internal air channels to allow for better breathability. An additional detail was the asymmetrical heel pull. This not only allowed for easier entry into the Superstar but also allowed the pair to be easily carried by carabiner on a harness as you would on with approach or climbing shoes.

The upper interior and tongue was redesigned to allow for a forefoot fur lining which covers the main arteries of the foot and is most essential for warmth. This was then sealed with a custom created taping that I designed for the project that was also used in the jacket.

he upper leather I chose an 3-star EPM rated and very supple aniline leather which was texturally contrasted with nubuck stripes and heel patch. The heel lining and footbed utilized a Clarino synthetic that is not only environmentally kind but also has sweat absorbing and breathability capabilities. Lastly, I designed laces and a heel pull webbing that used raw hemp as the base, and was strengthened with polyester accents in black.

The Superstar was treated in tonalities of black and neutral nudes to recognize Tokyo fashion's devotion to black, and the nude to signal the natural elements involved such as the raw hemp.

As with the Berlin ZX9000 each shoe was individually laser etched 1 to 150, but this time a bit more subtle by placing it tonal below the EVA tongue top. A specially created leather hangtag was included, which was also individually numbered and included artwork of the storefront.

Accompanying the footwear, I designed custom packaging that consisted of a custom shoebox, tissue paper, shoebox carry bag, and garment bag. The launch also included an incredible winter jacket designed by adidas apparel designer, Nils Moersch.

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