Adidas Originals And Wales Bonner’s Latest Cult Collaboration Has Just Landed

In recent years, sportswear has experienced something of a renaissance. A category that was, at one time, viewed as purely functional has since been elevated to the same esteem as high fashion, and no other sartorial item seems capable of eliciting the same level of excitement as a hype sneaker. All of which is to say, you can imagine the fervor among fashion fans when the first collaboration between sportswear behemoth Adidas Originals and needle-moving London designer Wales Bonner launched back in FW20. Flash forward one year and the collaborators have celebrated two sell-out capsules and just released the third and final instalment in their design trilogy, titled Black Sunlight, which is sure to reach the same cult status.

Despite launching her eponymous label just seven years ago, Grace Wales Bonner has quickly become one of the most influential designers at work today. Critically acclaimed from day one, she already has an armful of accolades – including the LVMH Young Designer Prize, a Fashion Award and the BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund – to her name. Issues such as identity and heritage have been key themes in Wales Bonner’s work since the beginning, and these have carried through in her partnership with Adidas Originals – a brand whose own deft blend of legacy and innovation has seen it become a household name worldwide.

Black Sunlight is an aesthetic and cerebral nod to a period in UK history, specifically the 1980s, defined by Caribbean thought and Black British intellectualism, best encapsulated in the writings and prose of scholars, poets and artists from the Caribbean, India, and West Africa, whose work advanced postcolonial discourse in the UK and across the globe. Archetypal ’80s silhouettes and pieces, such as zip-up track tops, form-fitting jogging bottoms and streamlined sneakers are combined with scholarly signifiers such as collegiate motifs and colors to symbolize academic growth along with the merging of two worlds.

While this analysis might sound lofty or high-minded, the real appeal of the collaboration is the fact that it presents these eye-opening concepts in the form of ultra-versatile pieces that will slot effortlessly into your existing closet. Paired with a crisp white shirt, graphic track pants feel like an utterly fresh proposition, while retro-inspired sweaters and collegiate-style tops lend an insouciant edge to tailored pants and long-line coats.

Of course, like the most sought-after sportswear capsules, the crowning jewel of this collection is the sneakers. Wales Bonner reimagined Adidas Originals’ classic ‘Japan’ shoe in a veritable rainbow of warm and earthy hues. And, like all the most iconic sneakers, these future collectibles make the perfect finishing touch to any look, whether it’s double denim, oversized tailoring, ultra-feminine dresses or, of course, a sweat suit. That these standout sneakers belong in your arsenal is a given – it’s whittling your final choice down to just one pair that will prove problematic.