Take a Closer Look at the Balenciaga x adidas Destroyed Stan Smith
Demna’s styling cues meant the collaborative pair was well-hidden on its Spring 2023 runway in New York.
Last night, Balenciaga took over Wall Street and probably your Instagram feed with the debut of its Spring 2023 collection that also featured a see-now-buy-now collaboration with adidas. The Demna-designed adidas gear has been unmissable over the last few hours, and much of the attention has been put on both the adidas x Balenciaga Triple S sneakers and the gimp-ish uniforms the house’s models bore. However, it seems that alongside the collaborative Triple S, Speed Trainers, $995 USD soccer tops, $5,500 USD leather blousons and $210 USD socks, there was another part of the collaboration that was overlooked: Balenciaga’s take on the classic adidas Originals Stan Smith sneaker.
Despite this pair being debuted on the runway, it has been largely missed — perhaps due to Balenciaga’s styling, which sees its large baggy denim pants draped exaggeratedly atop the reimagined Stan Smith. Peaking out ever so slightly, we see plenty of wear and tear applied to the legendary sneaker, but that’s not all.
Per the Instagram account @myfacewheno_o, images courtesy of @miketheruler have surfaced offering a closer look at the Balenciaga x adidas Originals Stan Smith. Here, we find the official name “Balenciaga x adidas Destroyed Stan Smith,” as well as images and videos of the pair.
Finished in a washed-out black leather design, the Stan Smith is adorned with collaborative branding on the tongue and inside the shoe on its insole, as well as a thinned midsole that looks well-worn. The practically shapeless design isn’t too far off Balenciaga’s viral distressed Paris Sneakers, and like those, the worn-out design makes them malleable and flexible.
Rounding out the Destroyed Stan Smith is a set of equally-worn flat laces in black, and of course, the perforated, dotted Three Stripes that are a signature of this silhouette.
Unlike the rest of Balenciaga and adidas’ collaboration, the Destroyed Stan Smith does not appear to be for sale at the time of writing. Stay tuned to HYPEBEAST for more information.
In related news, check out what happened when HYPEBEAST interviewed Stan Smith himself for Sole Mates.
