adidas By Raf Simons Trompe-l’oeil Collection

Since 2013 adidas and esteemed Belgian fashion designer Raf Simons have been hellbent on pushing the boundaries when it comes to both classic and contemporary footwear silhouettes.Whether it’s collaborating on the trend-setting, fore father of chunky sneakers Ozweego or infusing the worlds of runway and sportswear with stylistic reinvention, the pair have done so with an emphasis on preserving the intrinsic qualities of each shoe they turn their attention to, keeping unique characteristics and historical relevancy high on the agenda amid a multi influenced design process. Now, as they get set to roll out the latest amalgamation of their combined endeavours in the form of the adidas By Raf Simons Trompe-l’oeil collection, it seems not much has changed when it comes to the pairings defined sensibilities and sharp conceptual direction.

No stranger to a Stan Smith, Raf Simons not only has a soft spot for the unmistakable tennis shoe, having been sighted donning them for himself on numerous occasions, but has utilised the shoe to great effect as part of his debut collaborative line with the German sportswear giant, updating the sneaker with a plethora of bold colours and the now iconic perforated R to the lateral side. Choosing once again to focus their attention toward that of the understated ‘70s classic this latest evolutionary step in the partnerships creative venture sees not only the adilette sliders brought along for the ride several but several archival styles including the Micropacer, Torsion Conquest Super, Peach Tree, Samba and the L.A. Trainer, transported back into modern day rotations through the use of an innovative application and unconventional finish.

Deriving its name from the French painting technique meaning ‘to deceive the eye’ the collection plays with perceptions through the use of realistic photography, 3D modelling and precise printing, capturing each vintage trainer down to the finest detail before subsequently blanketing them across both a Stan Smith and adilette canvas. Blending together past, present and future the clean lines and minimal nature of each chosen model only seeks to enhance the deceptive approach, allowing distinguishing features and authentic worn in markings – such as stains and exposed glue – to be showcased to full optical illusion inducing effect.

The result is a product that both blends cross generational styles and functional purpose whilst simultaneously paying homage to adidas’ rich history of iconic classics in a way only achievable by a collaboration of this magnitude.

The adidas by Raf Simons Trompe-l’oeil collection launches both online and in store at Aphrodite on the 12th of April at 9:00am with the RS adilettes launching on the 17th of May.