adidas Originals Digs Deep Into FYW Archives, Revives Intimidation Basketball Sneaker
The late ’90s pair directly inspired the YEEZY 500.
adidas Originals‘ FYW archive is incredibly expansive and delivered many daring looks in the late ’90s, and now the Three Striped brand is bringing back the Intimidation basketball sneaker.
Feet You Wear technology was developed and designed by Frampton Ellis, who was hired by adidas to create a sneaker platform that followed the natural curves and shape of the human foot. The results were styles that to this day are revered as some of adidas‘ best, many of which have found a second life thanks to the chunky sneaker revival.
The latest pair to be reintroduced from the ’90s FYW line is the Intimidation — a basketball sneaker that features a number of familiar design cues. Firstly, the shoe’s rubber cup sole unit directly influenced the YEEZY 500, with the same shapes and pressure point designs appearing on both shoes.
adidas Originals has used a mixture of synthetic leather, mesh, rubber, and TPU to construct the upper. “Collegiate Navy” mesh forms the base for layers of “Wonder Glow” yellow TPU caging to give the shoe it’s now-retro aesthetic, while “Cloud White” synthetic leather forms the collar and support. There’s retro adidas EQT embroidery on the toe box, more of the same branding by the collar and heel, as well as Intimidation branding on the webbing strap on the tongue.
Rounding out the shoe is plenty of adiPRENE+ tech inside the sole unit, providing added comfort and stability, and a final touch of “Freddy” branding from the FYW archives printed onto the insole.
Take a look at the adidas Originals Intimidation above, and pick up a pair for yourself now on adidas’ website, where they retail for $130 USD.
In other news, adidas has updated its ZX 8000 “Aqua” for the golf course.
