U.K. Retailer Offspring Crowned Winner of adidas Consortium Cup
Looking back at the imprint’s four winning designs.
adidas‘ debut Consortium Cup tournament has officially wrapped up and crowned its winner. The sneaker design competition saw 16 retailers from around the globe battle it out in a four-round match with shops eliminated in every round determined by public voting. In addition, competitors made various adidas silhouettes their own, seeing each round’s winning design hit shelves in limited quantities later this year.
The final round saw two British retailers battle it out for the top prize, and fans finally voted Offspring as their utmost favorite. Overall, Offspring produced four tangible concept sneakers, with its first round blueprint paying tribute to its London roots. Electing the adidas Samba, the retailer envisioned the sneaker with tumbled nubuck leather uppers in a faint stone-like hue. Creamy leather accents adorn the medial Three Stripes branding, tongues, and heel tabs, all featuring rub-off technology that reveal paisley graphics beneath.
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
After taking home the first round against Japan’s Mita Sneakers, Offspring advanced to the quarter-finals with a luxury take on the adidas Centennial Low. Offspring celebrated British craftsmanship through an athletic lens during the tournament’s basketball round. The low-top sneaker promotes a cream and tan palette, sporting exposed foam detailing and pressed Offspring branding. Once again, the imprint used fading fabrics that disclose London’s River Thames, finished with gilded “LONDON” text, leather insoles, and milky rubber outsoles.
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
The design pushed Offspring into the semi-finals, defeating L.A.’s Sneaker Politics to face Korean-based shop Kasina. For the “Running” segment, the retailer crafted an antiquated version of adidas’ ZX8000. The sneaker was inspired by Portland stone used to create London’s angelic building structures. For this, Offspring presented the kicks in high-quality leather and suede architected in tonal grey hues. Fuzzy suede overlays collide with black leather medial branding and semi-translucent eyelet cages, while branded hits land on the tongues, quarters, and lace locks. “Mint Green”-tinted aglets are reminiscent of natural stone oxidization, completing the design stacked on inscribed sandy bottoms.
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
Finally, a U.K. match-up was in order for the Consortium Cup’s final round. Offspring and END. were allowed to select any existing adidas model, the former opting for a hybrid silhouette that blends the adidas Response CL with Raf Simons’ RS OZWEEGO. The design is based on the £1 GBP note that is no longer in circulation, mirroring its aged color scheme throughout the pair. Offspring also employed cream and beige tones from the Bank of England‘s interior complex, combined across the Response CL’s mesh and leather uppers. Chunky sole units were taken from the discontinued OZWEEGO model, which boasts a holographic window commonly seen on British bank notes.
Offspring
Offspring
Offspring
The laces are adorned with holding straps decorated with “Offspring London” lettering in an old-fashioned typeface, while a custom serial number is presented alongside further branding on the tongues and heels.
As Offspring was dubbed the universal victor, all four of its designs will be produced later this year alongside all other successful retailer creations from the competition.
Take a closer look at Offspring’s triumphant footwear designs above.
Elsewhere, take an on-foot look at the Billie Eilish x Nike Air Alpha Force 88.
