Prada, Adidas to Launch Collection in Re-Nylon
Prada and adidas Originals have taken their partnership to a new level with their latest collection. For the first time, the two iconic brands have combined on a range of apparel in addition to a set of sneakers and bags. But while the inclusion of ready-to-wear apparel is what makes this collection unique when compared to the previous two, the crown jewel of the collection is still the adidas Forum. It’s a style the German sportswear giant has been focusing a lot on over the past 12 months, and which was first teased by A$AP Rocky several months ago.
Not only does the first co-branded apparel collection represent a big step forward in terms of output, each of the pieces also seamlessly combine both brands’ design languages. On the apparel end, adidas’ Three Stripes branding is cleverly applied to some of Prada’s most famous silhouettes, while the Italian fashion house’s signature Re-Nylon plays a large part in every piece, from the bags and accessories to the Forum sneakers.
The Forum is now the third sneaker model overall that has been given the Prada treatment following the Superstar in 2020 and the performance-focused Luna Rossa ’21 from earlier this year. “From the very beginning of our partnership together, the Forum has always been a part of our conversations,” explains Stefano Pierre Beruschi, head of design for adidas collaborations. “Not only is it one of adidas’ most iconic silhouettes, but we also jointly agreed it would be the perfect archetype to express as a centerpiece for our third collaborative project.”
“Once we had made the decision to use Prada’s Re-Nylon textile as a focal point for the Forum silhouette, it naturally followed for us to expand the project into apparel and accessories,” Beruschi reveals. “With the versatility of this material, we crafted a high-density capsule collection, unified by material, color, and by the DNA of both brands – merging the height of Luxury and the 3 Stripes.”
“The idea to use the Prada pouch was an intuitive ‘must do’ when we sat down to create this hybrid take on the Forum,” explains Beruschi. “When transposed onto the Forum, the pouch enhances the style of the upper with distinction, taking on a new ornamental value beyond its formal nature as a shoe.”
The third Prada x adidas collection is clearly a big step in the partnership’s evolution and, as Beruschi admits, the collaboration has gotten better over time, as the two brands and its respective teams have gotten more used to each other and the processes. The first two sneaker collaborations were important and successful in their own right, but the Forum looks like it could eclipse both.
The co-branded Superstar, while of the utmost quality and a timeless design, didn’t really hit the heights expected when the partnership was first announced. That was more down to the positioning of the Superstar, which was in the midst of an ambitious 50th-anniversary push, than the actual design of the Prada collaboration. The same can be said of the Luna Rossa ’21, whose use in the America’s Cup is incredibly significant but was ultimately overlooked by some members of the sneaker community; mainly due to the price tag, but also because sneakerheads are fickle by nature, and often prefer retro models over anything that could be perceived as too new.
Both sneakers were as well-executed as they could have been. Perhaps the consumers weren’t ready to fully appreciate the Prada x adidas products. Perhaps those that slept on them will be kicking themselves several years down the line. Regardless, the first two collections laid a solid foundation that can be built on. And that’s exactly what the Prada x adidas Forum collection has done.
“As you can see, with each collaborative project, we take our partnership further, building on ideas, concepts, and a shared commitment to forward-thinking progress. Each time, the result is even more next level,” says Beruschi.
The adidas Forum has the potential to change the trajectory of the Prada x adidas collaboration. Like the Superstar, the Forum is a classic sneaker with deep-rooted heritage, however, it’s a model that is perhaps more suited to the tastes of the times. The build is slightly more chunky, and there have been some exciting collaborations and general release moments. More significantly, it’s a model you’re more likely to see scrolling through your timeline than a Superstar, and the longer the model stays in the public’s consciousness, the better the prospects for its success.
The Prada x adidas Forum has everything it needs to set the tone for 2022, not just for adidas, but for the whole footwear industry.
adidas and Prada will release their Forum-led collection on January 13 via Prada boutiques, Prada.com, and adidas.com.
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