Sportswear and High Fashion is Hitting a Fever Pitch: How Did We Get Here?

adidas Y-3 (Yohji Yamamoto x adidas)

In part responsible for bringing avant-garde into the mainstream in the 80s and 90s, Yohji Yamamoto brought his high-fashion flair to the Three Stripes years later in 2002. Creating influential shoes like the Qasa and Kubo under his adi sub-label, Y-3, a foray into apparel was also made, which reinterpreted iconic Yohji Yamamoto mainline pieces. An example is the Balloon Pants, which were remade by replacing the usual Y-3 cotton or wool construction with a polyester blend.

Yohji Yamamoto and adidas’ Y-3 is still active today, however its operations have been scaled back in recent years. Despite being slightly less popular than it once was, the sub-label helped light the path forward for many. And quite frankly, it’s hard to imagine adidas as it is in 2022 without the Y-3 influence.

Raf Simons x adidas

adidas have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to engaging creatively and experimentally with fashion designers, enlisting some of the biggest names on the scene. As well as Yamamoto, world-renowned Belgian designer Raf Simons was tapped in 2013. Unleashing a massive debut collection consisting of five shoes in three colourways, they were all modelled on high-end performance running models. Part of the pack, the Ozweego had the most seismic impact, after releasing it instantly became the go-to for the ‘internet fashion kids’ of the mid to late 2010s.    

Supreme x Louis Vuitton

While officially launching in 2017, Supreme manifested its LV collaboration as far back as 2001 when they bootlegged the Louis Vuitton monogram print, adorning it on a range of apparel and skate decks. The official collab was a major cultural moment, especially for streetwear fiends who’ve been following Supreme since its birth. 

While the NY skate imprint is not necessarily a sportswear brand and actually sits within the streetwear category, we felt it had to be included due to its widespread influence and of course its ties to luxury. In 2017, Kim Jones was at the helm of LV and his innate love for streetwear spurred the decision to link with Supreme. Selling at exorbitant prices, reflecting its impeccable quality, every release around the globe sold out instantly, with aftermarket prices remaining in the high four-digits some five years later.

Gucci x adidas

This year’s Gucci x adidas capsule signifies an epic shift in the industry. Perfectly nailing the brief, it combines a handful of the Three Stripes’ most iconic silhouettes with Gucci creative director, Alessandro Michele’s kitschy flair.

adidas may boast a large list of heavy hitter high-end collaborators, but enlisting Gucci at the peak of its modern-day hype is a massive achievement. Resulting in an extensive array of footwear and apparel offerings, this is indicative of the future of brand mash-ups.

Jacquemus x Nike

French fashion house Jacquemus is making a name for itself with inventive accessories and elegant clothing. It was only a couple of months ago that the brand announced a plan to work with Nike, using the Air Humara silhouette – an interesting yet welcome choice! Still yet to release to the public, we’re keen to see the impact of the seismic linkup across the sneakersphere and fashion world!

Designer style meets sportswear

For her wardrobe.

For his wardrobe.