7 月 27, 2018

BAPE x adidas Adicolor Collection Marks Another Classic Collab

Kevin Kosanovich

Kevin holds a Ph.D. in American studies and is an expert in American cultural history and hip-hop. He is the Senior Content Manager at StockX.

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BAPE and adidas are dropping their BAPE x adidas Adicolor collection on July 28. This capsule is based on adidas’ adicolor line and features classic adicolor tracksuits and tees in different shades of BAPE’s iconic camo pattern. Whether you rock the red, black, blue, or the traditional BAPE camo print, all of the camo collab pieces will make you stand out and break necks.

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Of course, this is not the first time that the three stripes and the Apehead have worked together. BAPE and adidas have a deep collaborative relationship. The origins of these brands working together are the stuff of hypebeast legend. Shortly after adidas Originals was founded in 2001, NIGO met adidas brand consultant Gary Aspden and talked collaboration. They then hooked up with Japanese designer Kazuki Kuraishi and developed the “Super Ape Star” combining BAPE insignia and motifs with the adidas Superstar silhouette. Ever since it’s been fifteen years of collab heat and counting.

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The Respect is Mutual

Once the “Super Ape Star” was developed, it was released in 2003, with the advertising campaign “The Respect is Mutual.” The “Super Ape Star” released as a four pack: black, white, black with gold foil, and camo. The “Super Ape Star” quickly achieved grail status for adidas and BAPE fanatics alike.

BAPE x adidas adicolor

BAPE x adidas “Super Ape Star”

Quickly following this first release, BAPE x adidas released the mid “Super Ape Skate” with another four colorways. The first two colorways, an olive/white and a black/grey, features the Superstar silhouette with “Super Skate Ape” printed above the medial stripes. Additionally, a snakeskin “Super Ape Skate” release was limited to 500 pairs with the production number printed on the heel.

BAPE x adidas adicolor

BAPE x adidas “Super Ape Skate”

 

As if this wasn’t enough, an even more limited snakeskin edition was released, known as “Staff Only.” This super rare iteration featured a vibrant, iridescent snakeskin on the upper, blacked out lettering, and a very limited run of 100 pairs. The “Staff Only” pairs remain one of the most sought-after grails of the BAPE x adidas partnership.

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BAPE x adidas “Super Ape Skate” Staff Only // @robertbrooksy

Mutual Respect Re-Mixed

BAPE and adidas reconnected in 2011, with another massively hyped shoe. The BAPE x adidas Superstar “B-Side” features an off-white upper with navy stripes, a new Apehead insignia, gold foil detailing, camo lining, and “Trefle en Chevron et BAPE” [3 Stripes and BAPE]. Once again, the collab was a massive hit generating long lines and several instances of heat exhaustion.

BAPE x adidas adicolor

The “B-Sides” featured in the Autumn 2011 BAPE eMook

 

BAPE x adidas adicolor

BAPE Autumn 2011 eMook

Staying UNDFTD

In 2013, BAPE and adidas returned, but this time they brought along another collaborator. The BAPE x UNDFTD x adidas Consortium Campus 80s and ZX5000 received the collab treatment. The update of the 1980s’ adidas silhouette, Campus 80s, featured two subdued colorways in olive and black. For those wanting to rock something a little louder, the ZX5000 trainer received the full BAPE camo treatment on the entire upper.

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Two years later, BAPE, UNDFTD, and adidas dropped their third take on the Superstar. The BAPE x UNDFTD x adidas Consortium Superstar 80s came in four different colorways. The first two pairs released in April in solid white with blue camo accents and solid black with grey camo accents. In September, two different camo iterations released flipping the blue and grey camo lining to completely wrap the uppers.

BAPE x adidas adicolor

BAPE x UNDFTD x adidas Consortium Superstar 80s Blue Camo

BAPE x adidas adicolor

BAPE x UNDFTD x adidas Consortium Superstar 80s White

Going Apes**t

In 2016, BAPE and adidas returned with two iterations of the NMD_R1. The BAPE x adidas NMD_R1 included BAPE’s camo and design aesthetic with the NMD’s forward-looking technical aspects. Released in olive and black colorways, the camo detailing was offset by bright white, tape stripes, resting on a white BOOST midsole and color matching EVA plug inserts. In addition to the shoes, BAPE and adidas also released an apparel collection for BAPE’s FW16 collection, which you can browse below.

BAPE x adidas adicolor

BAPE x adidas ABC Camo Firebird Shark Puffer Green Jacket

 

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BAPE x adidas ABC Camo Track Jacket Black

 

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BAPE x adidas ABC Camo Track Jacket Green

 

BAPE and adidas also released a capsule collection for the 2018 World Cup and rumors swirl that 2019 will see a BAPE x adidas Ultra BOOST and a BAPE x adidas Samba.