Ned Flanders Inspired 'The Simpsons' x adidas McCarten "Left-Handers Rule"
“I got standards, sneakers Ned Flanders.”
The Simpsons and adidas‘ adidas Originals division are continuing their partnership with a new take on the McCarten, dubbed “Left-Handers Rule” and inspired by Springfield’s most famous left-hander: Ned Flanders. Any die-hard The Simpsons fan is familiar with The Leftorium, Flanders’ store for left-handed people that was a key part of his character arc for several seasons until he left to teach fourth grade at Springfield Elementary School, and it’s easy to think that this McCarten would receive prime floor space at Flanders’ business.
From a build standpoint, Flanders’ sneaker features a green leather panel to match his signature sweater. This piece is sandwiched by brown suede on the toebox, collar, tongue, heel and ultra-thin mudguard. Raised stitching around the toebox adds a moccasin-like dash of flair, and Flanders’ bright pink shirt — that always appears under his aforementioned green sweater — is nodded to by pink trim on the collar. Branding is kept to a minimum, save for a gold Trefoil logo directly below the gold eyestays and a debossed hit on the leather insole. Black midsoles and outsole finalize the look. The shoes are also accompanied by a special leather hangtag and packaged in a Leftorium box.
The McCarten, a style that’s half loafer half sneaker, and entirely casual seems to be an apt, unpretentious choice for the pious Flanders. It was introduced in September 2017 as part of an adidas Spezial collection, designed by Gary Aspden and inspired by renowned adidas collector Bobby McCarten, whose archive is often used by the Spezial team while creating new products.
Left-handers, Flanders fans, The Simpsons savants and adidas aficionados can secure their The Simpsons x adidas McCarten “Left-Handers Rule” on the adidas UK webstore now for $90 USD.
Elsewhere in the world of the Three Stripes, take a detailed look at Pharrell’s upcoming adidas Humanrace Sichona in blue.
