ADIDAS Y-3 - ITOGO 糸五
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Earlier this year adidas and Yohji Yamamoto introduced the world to the brand’s new pinnacle expression: Y-3 Atelier. Spotlighting an approach to production driven by craftsmanship, skill, and undeterred dedication, this season, the brand with the Three Stripes and the renegade Japanese designer present the first footwear offering from their experimental new line: the Y-3 ITOGO.
Entirely new design Upper + Midsole
development : Oury Hermes
product manager : Lukas Ruprecht
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2021/22
Spring Summer 2023
Yohji Yamamoto's fashion philosophy has always been about creating something unique and meaningful, pushing boundaries in both design and craftsmanship. In collaboration with adidas, he has introduced the Y-3 Atelier collection, which showcases a new refined approach driven by skill, dedication, and craftsmanship.
The collection features the Y-3 ITOGO, a shoe that challenges conventional sneaker design with its minimalist construction made up of only five components.
Yohji Yamamoto's commitment to craftsmanship is unparalleled in the fashion industry. He is known for his use of traditional techniques such as hand-stitching and tailoring, which have been passed down through generations. His unique approach to design made him create pieces that are not only beautiful but also functional, with each piece receiving countless hours of meticulous attention to detail. By using these traditional techniques, he imbues his designs with a sense of history and tradition, creating pieces that are both contemporary and timeless.
It is this attention to craftsmanship that we decided to celebrate through this new Y-3 concept.
original sketch of the concept,
June 2021
The shoe is designed as a provocation to rethink the lifecycle of footwear materials, forgoing the use of glue, and assembled through a hand-stitched process that allows the product to be fully dismantled if the owner decides to cut the threads.
first sample
2021
The Y-3 ITOGO was created through prototype explorations and testing, resulting in a unique and challenging construction. Rather than using glue, the Primeknit upper is stitched to the cupsole and supported by two thick straps atop a removable BOOST midsole for a comfortable fit.
The shoe's unique construction is a meditation on the lifecycle of footwear,
resulting in a silhouette that can be fully dismantled at the end of its life.
The Y-3 ITOGO's minimalist design challenges the norm of heavy-constructed and complex sneakers nowadays.
The shoe's five components construction aims to provoke a conversation about the sustainability of footwear
and the overconsumption of materials.
"In a time where more is often considered better, Y-3 ITOGO advocates for less is more."
The final product of the Y-3 ITOGO is an example of what can be accomplished with a minimalist design approach.
The concept lies in its simplicity, where each component is given equal importance and highlighted on the shoe by numbers.
The official campaign and imagery for the launch of the Y-3 ITOGO reflects the shoe's minimalist design philosophy, featuring simple and elegant visuals. The campaign aimed to promote the shoe's sustainability and the concept of minimalism, showcasing the shoe's unique construction and minimalist design.
A nod to its innovative assembly, the Y-3 ITOGO moniker is derived from a carefully considered combination of the Japanese word for “Thread” – “Ito” – and “Five” – “Go”.
In conclusion, the adidas Y-3 ITOGO shoe represents a new direction in footwear design, built upon the foundation of Yohji Yamamoto's deep commitment to traditional craftsmanship and minimalist aesthetics. By utilizing a hand-stitched assembly process and eschewing the use of glue, the shoe challenges conventional notions of sneaker construction and creates a silhouette that is both unique and functional. This Y-3 shoe aims to be a testament to the power of expertly crafted design, blending form and function in a way that is both innovative and timeless.
thank you !
