Why adidas Blue Version is the final word in sportswear
With the launch of Blue Version, activewear titans adidas pay homage to the iconic pieces that have made them industry forerunners since day one
Sportswear behemoth adidas has the type of rich and storied history that even the most acclaimed heritage fashion houses would aspire to. Established in 1949, the brand was born out of a desire to create game-changing equipment for the athletes of the day. However, in tandem with adidas’s growing athletic prowess, came its aesthetic and sartorial mastery. The brand might remain the first choice among sports people around the world, thanks to its game-changing innovations, but it is the quality and flair of the label’s designs that has seen it become an arbiter of taste, too.
The label literally burst onto the sports and fashion scene with its now-iconic three stripe signature, an enduring emblem of the sportswear heavyweight that has also become a mainstay in the closets of the world’s most discerning dressers. For example, the genre-defining Franz Beckenbauer Tracksuit, which was first unveilied in 1967 and named after the famous German soccer star, was originally conceived of as a dapper yet functional co-ord that would add flair to the athlete’s warm-up routine. Since then, it has cemented itself as one of sports and fashion’s most enduring designs, with remastered versions worn by everyone from models Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid to British Vogue’s Sarah Harris. One only has to look at the cultural power players the brand has collaborated with – from cult fashion names such as Yohji Yamamoto and Grace Wales Bonner to music artists including Pharrell Williams and Kanye West – to truly comprehend its cultural potency and power.
“These designs at once pay homage to the past while also setting the agenda for future-facing sportswear
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Fast-forward to 2021 and the brand, of course, has produced an eye-watering number of iconic pieces, which is where its latest line, adidas Blue Version, comes in. The label has launched Blue Version with a mission to distil its staggering archive down to just a handful of bona fide design highlights. The name, of course, is a nod to the bold bluebird shade that has not only become synonymous with the brand over the last 72 years, but also boasts emotive properties that make it a fitting choice for this exclusive collection of definitive pieces. Consider this capsule the absolute pinnacle of undeniably ‘adidas’ pieces; from stirrup style track pants to polo tops, sports-imbued trench coats and retro style track tops. These designs at once pay homage to the past while also setting the agenda for future-facing sportswear – and redefine what so-called athleisure really means today.
However, while these needle-moving designs might be investment pieces, not to mention future collectibles, they are also, crucially, incredibly wearable. Styled together, they are sure to make maximum impact, but they also promise to slot effortlessly into your existing closet. Simply add denim, oversized knits and luxe accessories into the mix for a hi/lo look that feels more relevant than ever.