The Adidas Collective A/W 2015-16 collection is off to a running start

Images courtesy of Adidas

Adidas Ultra BOOST Collective and Japanese fashion brand kolor, helmed by designer Junichi Abe, begin a new partnership this fall with a men’s collection that combines the technology of a BOOST foam cushioning midsole with modern designs in sportswear. Already claiming the “greatest running shoe ever,” the Collective expands Adidas’s stake in men’s leisure apparel, which is fast replacing the formal suit (see Leisure Society in At Large issue 3). Can something so historically utilitarian cross the line into fashion? Yes, we’ve seen it before, most recently with sunglasses.

The obvious similarity between sneakers and eyewear is that both can be purely aesthetic and yet remain 100-percent functional. While performing the quotidian chore of keeping glass out of your toes, the full-length BOOST foam cushioning is designed to provide enhanced energy return with each step. Following those functions, kolor adds precise details and vivid color accents to the silhouette, which can be paired with sportswear or worn with a standard pair of blue jeans and a black T-shirt to effect.

Cities—New York, London, Tokyo and Paris—are open-air catwalks and giant treadmills. Expect to see Adidas by kolor pounding the pavement near you.

The Adidas by kolor A/W 2015-16 collection is now available online and in stores worldwide.