Arriving in joint celebration of the 10th anniversary of adidas SPZL and the 30th anniversary of Metalheadz music, adidas SPZL and the groundbreaking DJ, artist, actor and style icon, Goldie, have come together to launch the collaborative Goldie SPZL trainer.
With adidas SPZL turning 10 this year, the celebrations have taken in the achievements of the last Decade, whilst also giving a taster of what the next 10 years may have in stall with the reveal of SPZL F.C. Since the premium Adidas sub-label debuted back in 2014, it has garnered a very select following, and one man that has always been counted within that number is Goldie, which with his position being typified when he fronted the autumn/winter 2017 collection, shot by Nick Knight. He and adidas SPZL founder Gary Aspden are long time collaborators and have been close friends for many years, and now the relationship moves on to the next level with the reveal of the Goldie SPZL trainer.
"There's something to be said about Gary and the SPZL team's approach to style. SPZL gracefully pushes the past into the future, with modern ‘cuts’,” Goldie said. “I couldn't be more proud of this project. The adidas Forest Hills were trainers I admired as a kid and they became one of the references for the colourway of my shoes. Having the ability to remix this icon into something very different and new for me is everything. This year marks a special (or SPEZIAL!) anniversary for both SPZL and Metalheadz so I couldn't be happier."
The silhouette itself takes the iconic Silverbirch SPZL as its foundation, updating the timeless look through a number of details that pay homage to Goldie’s inimitable legacy. First, the tonal white upper is adorned in faux-stingray leather overlays (a subtle nod to his B-Boy roots and transatlantic influences) with mesh and nylon underlays. The gold of the stripes and heel is then juxtaposed against a pink pop of colour on the dual branded tongue label. There is a laser cut SPZL 'Mod Trefoil' on one shoe with a laser cut Metalheadz logo appearing on the other foot as a further nod to the artist’s trailblazing label. Each pair is finished with Goldie and Spezial Box Logo lace jewels. Rounding out the collaborative silhouette are special edition footbeds which feature a new original Goldie artwork inspired by a pink that he used consistently since his early days as a graffiti writer.
Talking about the shoe’s design, Goldie said: “Pink was a colour that really eluded us as graffiti kids. You could only get it from one brand of paint at the time which was ridiculously past our paygrade.
“I’ve since made my own colours with a paint company near my hometown in Walsall and have created my own shade of pink as a graffiti artist. That made me feel like I was on top of the world. I’ve conquered everything – I’ve won in my life. No professorship or doctorate could ever replace the feeling of using my own paint, mixing it and putting it into a can of my own making. As an artist that was as good as it gets. 42 years later, I get to work on an amazing trainer and have honoured that shade of pink on my shoe’s footbed. I’m walking on top of a world created with big strides. The pink on the tongue and footbed is my way of tipping my baseball cap to that.”
The limited edition Goldie SPZL trainer launches on 10 October via adidas Confirmed and adidas SPZL stockists.
