ADIDAS SPEZIAL PRE-SPRING 2023

Since its inception, adidas SPEZIAL has been synonymous with a celebration of archival design and functionality, spearheaded by Gary Aspden and his meticulous eye for introducing classics into the contemporary sphere. The latest from the line, adidas SPEZIAL’s Pre-Spring 2023 collection, showcases a continuation of that sensibility, stepping into the outdoors via a curated exploration of functional cues and timeless styles. The campaign sees adidas SPEZIAL embark on a journey into the wilds of Iceland with seminal British actor and longstanding SPEZIAL advocate, Stephen Graham, celebrating the awe-inspiring connection between humans and nature.

The footwear is made up of six unique silhouettes — some that are iterations of past releases and some that are all-new for the SPEZIAL line — showcasing a seamless fusion of heritage references and nuanced details. The first up is the Hochelaga SPZL from 2016, which returns in navy suede with yellow stripes to nod to the vintage adidas Montreal. Alongside this is the Hochelaga Super, featuring a white leather construction with navy and red ‘edged’ stripes — a detail typical of mid-to-late ‘80s releases. The Hartness SPZL, meanwhile, is inspired by ‘80s runners with its upper pattern that nods to the all-weather adidas HRC, while the Arkesden SPZL sees classic Campus tooling fused with an upper pattern rooted in the Lacombe SPZL. Looking to the more utilitarian footwear, the Hiaven SPZL represents a successor the Winterhill SPZL, boasting a rugged construction made up of an aditex membrane and a protective rubber mudguard. The Denim Italia SPZL is a reimagining of the ’70s model in premium denim, while the Newrad SPZL is reimagined in monochrome dark brown leather with a gusset tongue.

The apparel and accessories represent an emphasis on the use of recycled fabrics, with the headline outerwear pieces, the Feniscowles and Kearsley jacket, both crafted from recycled materials. The same applies to this collection’s elevated, SPEZIAL-typical tracksuit, named the Tockholes, which is crafted from 100% recycled fleece. Rounding off the collection is the Feniscowles Hat — a modern take on the classic deerstalker silhouette — which also features a recycled polyester construction.