adidas Originals by 424 – limiteditionsmens

08.05.20

This season, adidas Originals return once more to Fairfax, Los Angeles for a reunion with new wave West Coast trailblazers 424.
424 was founded by Guilermo Andrade, whose determination to succeed was first cemented during the journey from Guatemala to the United States that he and his family took when he was just eight years old. Guillermo channelled this determination into 424, an iconic retail destination for those who, like Guilermo, wanted to break from the norm and wear things a little differently. In 2014 this evolved, via a highly sought-after jewellery line, into the 424 clothing line. Built on traditional silhouettes it is filtered through Andrade’s own unmistakeably of-the-now streetwear aesthetic.

For his first collaboration with adidas Originals, Guilermo applied that same vision to two classic adidas footwear models, the SC Premiere and Pro Model. Here, Guilermo leaned on the cleaner, more refined aspects of his sensibilities, ensuring that each shoe felt utterly fresh while still retaining the timeless craftsmanship and attention-to-detail that has come to define adidas’ sporting heritage over the decades.

Guillermo applies this same approach to his latest collaboration with adidas, albeit in greatly expanded form. The 424 SC Premiere and Pro Model return once more, the former retaining its crisp white base and pops of red, while the latter is rendered in pared back black and white variations. They are joined this time out however by an equally slick but vintage-inspired take on Guilermo’s all-time favourite sneaker: the adidas Superstar. The iconic basketball shoe has its 50th anniversary this year, and over the course of those five decades it has transitioned seamlessly from the courts, to the streets, to an unforgettable place in hip-hop and fashion history. With carefully applied vintage-style effects and a gold foil reference to its colloquial name, ‘Shell Toe’, the 424 Superstar is a fitting celebration of the iconic shoe.

The three footwear styles are also accompanied this time out by a diverse range of apparel pieces. The key looks are built around two contrasting colourways: a sportier blend of black and red that calls to mind the Superstar-loving looks of Run DMC and a more formal-feeling mix of grey checks that take the shape of a long peacoat and tailored pants. A black and red pairing of track top and track pants is emblazoned with oversized 424 branding, and the same design language continues across a hoodie, tee, scarf and overdyed cap. The final pieces that Guilermo brings into the three-striped fold are a blazer and kimono. They are not perhaps typical items for a release such as this, but they nevertheless find their place in a collection that so deftly blends Guilermo’s love of sport and street; fashion and self-expression.