Published Wednesday 2 October 2019 at 10:54
adidas Originals has unveiled its new SPEZIAL collection – featuring the Blackburn, Hoddelsden and Winter Hill designs.
The names are a celebration of designer Gary Aspden’s local connections to the borough – having grown-up in Darwen.
The FW19 collection also boasts the Belthorn anorak and Rossendale parka.
The Blackburn SPZL has been modelled by Gene Gallagher – son of Oasis superstar Liam Gallagher who recently released his own SPEZIAL trainers.
It’s the first time that Gene, who is a dedicated fan, has modelled.
The Blackburn shoe is set to officially launch at a huge adidas exhibition at the magnificent Cotton Exchange in the town at noon on Friday.
And, super fans have already started queuing for a limited edition, Nightsafe version!
All proceeds from the 200 run will be pledged to the charity which helps vulnerable and homeless youngsters.
Full adidas announcement:
adidas Originals unveils the new adidas SPEZIAL collection of apparel and footwear for FW19.
Inspired by winter on the terraces of British football grounds and consisting of utilitarian and hard-wearing product designed to combat the elements, the latest SPEZIAL release blends adidas’ rich heritage in sportswear with modern technology, tooling, and fabrics.
The earthy toned Belthorn anorak and the Rossendale parka (a modern update on the classic fishtail parka) that melds durability and style, are the standout garments of the collection.
Accompanying them is the Spezial Liner vest, which fits seamlessly into the Belthorn anorak as a water-resistant liner, subtly branded long-sleeve and short-sleeve t-shirt options, and a pack of two pairs of simple Spezial cotton socks.
The footwear for this season features the SL80 SPZL, a one to one reproduction of the SL80 in its classic navy/gold colourway, an update of the winter-ready adidas Winterhill SPZL in adi-tex, and a premium leather Hoddlesden SPZL, which fuses vintage DNA from other classic adidas leisure shoes that have formed part of previous SPZL collections.
The footwear offering is topped off by the release of the Blackburn SPZL, a shoe named after, and inspired by, the Lancashire town in which Gary Aspden spent much of his youth.
Most of the European city series shoes would use colourways that were in some way relevant to the cities they were named after, the colourway of the Blackburn SPZL is no exception inspired by the green and red of the rose of Lancashire.
To launch this latest collection, an adidas SPEZIAL exhibition will showcase the evolution of adidas footwear past and present in Blackburn’s magnificent Cotton Exchange, as the headliner of the British Textile Biennial.
The campaign is shot by Manchester photographer Paul Husband and features Gene Gallagher (son of Liam) who has never modelled before but is a dedicated fan of the range.