adidas Originals by Wales Bonner SS22

For the fourth consecutive season, adidas and Wales Bonner delves into and explores the sportswear giant’s vast archive of codes from the 70s and 80s.  Continuing a fruitful creative partnership that re-imagines many of adidas’ much-loved classics, this time the capsule collection comes to us through the prism of music and movement originating from Burkina Faso.

Celebrated British designer Grace Wales Bonner launched her eponymous label in 2014 following her graduation from Central Saint Martins.  Originally from London, Bonner was born to an English mother and Jamaican father, and those dual heritages have since always been directly referenced in her design ethos.  For adidas Originals in SS22 she unites these Afrocentrism and European approaches to exploring politics, sexuality and the wider African diaspora. Past collaborations between Wales Bonner and adidas Originals similarly emphasised this same fusion of differences – often inspired by Jamaican ‘rudeboy’ styles and sensibilities.

Here, celebrating togetherness and connection, this new collection leans into the ever-evolving collaborations between sportswear and high fashion, with the big giants recognising the potential to attract new audiences while simultaneously adding a constantly renewing sheen of ‘coolness’ for their existing customer base.  It should come as no surprise then that this particular collaboration is always highly anticipated and sought after season after season.

Maintaining the rich sporting heritage and legacy of adidas, and the contemporary luxury of Wales Bonner SS22, the new offering highlights and encapsulates the youth culture of a too-often overlooked continent and country for a new generation of customer.  Wales Bonner reinvents the timelessness of the classic Samba shoe by introducing new textures and colours, while cleverly adapting the signature three stripe motif to elevate the familiar silhouette.  The retro-inspired collection also plays on the classic WB track top and pant by incorporating stark graphic patterns, without sacrificing the joyful 1970s colour palette that attracts the eye.

To accompany the new collection, Wales Bonner continues its exciting cinematic experiences with campaign imagery brought to life by stylist Tom Guinness and photographic duo Jalan and Jibril Durimel, with the twin brothers drawing inspiration from their own diverse upbringing and exposure to different cultures.  All of which leaves us eagerly anticipating what comes next from this innovative collaborative series.

For more information on the adidas Originals by Wales Bonner SS22 collaboration, click here

click here to read about the AW21 collection