adidas Consortium 3Way Project – Group 2
by Staff, April 20, 2009
The second drop of the 3Way Consortium project from adidas Originals brings together 4 of North America’s most respected sneaker retailers and boutiques to tell their own stories on 5 iconic models from adidas.
With the choice of working on the 5 models in whatever combination they desired Goodfoot, Huf, DQM and Undefeated representing Canada, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles respectively decided to work together across the Stan Smith, Samba, Superstar, Nizza and the Forum in a true collaborative spirit. A weekend in Las Vegas with all the partners got the ideas – and the dice – rolling and set the tone for what has become one of the best concept packs in recent memory.
Forum
With the rest of the collection sporting a more minimal, clean aesthetic feel the boys at Goodfoot, Huf, DQM and Undefeated decided to let it all out on their version of the classic Forum Mid.
Taking inspiration from tee and sweatshirt prints that the partners had previously produced the result is a guaranteed neck breaker that shuns subtlety in favour of a more in your face approach. Each collaborator contributed one print and all the combined prints were used to make up the upper of the shoe.
DQM contributed the classic pin stripe just above the midsole in a nod to their hometown Yankees, a theme that works nicely flowing into the Huf ‘Gold Chain’ print on the toecap. The Goodfoot contribution with a red African feeling bubble graffiti print that stretches across the heel strap and 3-Stripes melds perfectly with the red and white on black Undefeated ‘U’ that runs along the tongue and under the 3-Stripes. All in all the material twist was a unique way for all the partners to make their mark.
Pop this off with neon yellow highlights on the heel tab and top lace eyelets and you have a take on the 1984 court classic that is as individual as it is effective.
Stan Smith
Taking the timeless, clean silhouette of the iconic tennis sneaker and updating it for the sneaker aficionado was never going to be an easy task yet the Consortium partners from North America were more than up to the challenge.
The version that they have produced pays homage to the original with an off-white rough suede upper that has all embellishments including the traditional 3-Stripe perforations removed. The image of Stan Smith on the tongue has been replaced with a visual treatment outlining the logos of the partners in the project around the ever-recognisable Trefoil. Further detailing is present in the metal eyelets that are all silver bar the top eyelet, which is white, and Consortium branded – a nod that is as subtle as the shoe itself.
Nizza
The simple silhouette and clean lines of the vulcanized Nizza first appeared in the 70s and have been an ever-present inclusion in the adidas catalogue.
The Nizza makes an exclusive return for the 3Way Consortium project with a stripped back aesthetic that is a perfect match for the already subtle silhouette. Featuring a grey fleece material on the upper sitting on a white midsole with matching grey foxing the entire look of the shoe has a stripped back, minimal aesthetic that perfectly suits the model and the concept. Further detailing includes the Goodfoot, Huf, DQM and Undefeated partner logo surrounding the Trefoil on the tongue and material eyelets also done in grey.
Samba
The Samba has evolved from a terrace favourite to a popular choice of shoe in the fixed gear bike scene and a range of iterations in between. When the crew from Goodfoot, Huf, DQM and Undefeated sat down to work out the details of Samba the ‘simple is best’ ethos came to the fore.
The upper is a solid black textile material with the 3-Stripes removed, which when straddling the white midsole reinforces the low-slung feel of the silhouette. Branding is minimal over the whole shoe, with the Trefoil on the heel tab also etched in black and the tongue featuring the names of the participating partners circling the Trefoil. The top lace eyelet brings home the ‘less is more’ theme with barely noticeable Consortium branding.
Superstar
The Superstar is a silhouette that has been messed with many times over the decades – from the very shape of the shoe to materials, colourways and crazy all-over prints. The boys from Goodfoot, Huf, DQM and Undefeated keep it simple with this timeless take that draws from the simple aesthetics of the original, albeit with a premium material twist.
The royal blue nylonesque upper and matching suede 3-Stripes contrast nicely with the white midsole, shell toe, heel tab and lining. The contrast is furthered reinforced with the royal blue Trefoil sitting on the white heel tab, an effect that works well with the colourway overall.
My god. Bunch of whiners… Nice shoes.
not impressive..adidas and their collabs rarely impress these days..they hype always leaves me let down when you see the finished project..i hate overly embellished shoes and appreciate that they are simple, but these are just not interesting….
superstars are hott
Where and how can i get my hands on the grey nizza adidas’?
diggin the gray ones
loved the aZX pack to death and the first round of 3ways was nice. these not doing as much for me. oh and john, asics does collabs as well, solebox, patta, A.R.C., Alife and they are all sick
@Your Mother
The 3Way product benefits everybody: the stores get some exposure and an opportunity to work together; people buy the shoes, which benefits adidas; and the consumers get Consortium shoes that aren’t totally ridiculous and ugly (except those Forums, they’re pretty stupid looking)
the samba and stan smiths imo is the type of product adidas’s
skateboarding line should be putting out.
These are plain and boring. Premium materials alone are not enough to make a shoe stand out. That this is the best 4 companies working together to come up with on each of these shoes is pathetic. Branded tongue tags and shoe lace tips! Wow! Group 1 of this project is a lot better.
WHO SAID DQM IS HOT? I NEED THE MEMO! THE PLACE IS FAR FAR FAR FROM ICONIC!
stan’s and superstar 80’s are great.
stan smiths are a must have.
why are all companies are doing that boring collab stuff??
caue the people buy it…if nobody would buy it, they won´t do it.
most ideas are intersting some more than boring and some the most whack shit i´ve ever seen…
good companies don´t need the hype of a collab thing…they just do it(like asics does)…
anyway….don´t buy it…then it will stop.bet?
Nice collections… thanks for the pic…
Why would you put 4 groups in one collab?
thats freaking stupid.seems like the brand is not strong enough on its own.