In fashion, resurrection is rare. Brands rise and fall, trends cycle in and out, and few designers master the art of rebirth without losing their essence. Yet AVAVAV, the mischievous brainchild of Beate Karlsson, has done just that - crawling from the grave (quite literally) with its Fall/Winter 2025 showcase, "The Hole." In a theatrical display that blurred the line between runway and performance art, models emerged from beneath the earth - pale, smeared with blood, and clad in power-dystopian officewear, as though clawing their way out of a capitalist apocalypse.
Yet beneath the horror-tinged theatrics, the true rebirth came in the form of AVAVAV’s second collaboration with adidas, an audacious experiment in distorted sportswear, surrealist footwear, and irreverent branding. If last season was a fever dream, this season is a full-blown resurrection, and AVAVAV is embracing its undead status with gusto.
The Zombie Takeover of Fashion
Much like a cult classic horror film that refuses to fade into obscurity, AVAVAV has mastered the art of reinvention. "The Hole" wasn’t just a fashion show - it was an allegory of survival. The models, rising from the depths like modern-day revenants, embodied the brand’s ethos: disrupt, subvert, and refuse to die quietly.
Their attire? An uncanny fusion of hyper-corporate tailoring and post-apocalyptic couture, proving that even in the afterlife, style is a weapon.
But while the collection played on themes of decay and rebirth, the AVAVAV x adidas collaboration was a Frankensteinian masterpiece, stitching together iconic streetwear DNA with an aesthetic that was equal parts grotesque and genius.
When the Classics Mutate: AVAVAV x adidas
If last season’s "superfingers" warped the classic adidas Superstar into an uncanny valley of sneaker design, FW25 takes the mutation further. The signature shell toe - typically sleek and structured - has been widened and distorted, as if melting under the weight of its own legacy. This isn't a sneaker that simply steps into the future; it kicks open the door, leaving its fingerprints smeared across the walls.
And then there’s the Moonrubber Megaride - a monstrous hybrid that defies categorization. Imagine if Camper’s Caramaba had an illicit affair with an adidas archival runner, resulting in a sneaker that looks equal parts alien artifact and deep-sea creature. Its exaggerated, bulbous sole oozes surrealism, proving that in Karlsson’s world, even the most practical footwear can become a hyperrealist hallucination.
Beyond footwear, AVAVAV continues its defiant stance on sportswear. Distressed puffer vests, sculptural handbags, and subverted athletic essentials redefine what it means to be "sporty." And just in case the message wasn’t clear, accessories cheekily declare: "Don’t f* with the three stripes."** This isn’t a collaboration that asks for permission - it grabs the mic and rewrites the rulebook.
A Runway of Rebellion
AVAVAV has never been a brand that plays it safe. From staged runway wipeouts to collections that channel the visceral anxiety of fashion week itself, Karlsson’s approach is part satire, part social experiment. With its first adidas collab, the brand took the collection to an actual track field, fusing athletic heritage with unexpected elegance. This time, the message is even louder: AVAVAV is back, and it’s stomping all over the traditional fashion system.
In a world where luxury fashion often takes itself too seriously, AVAVAV remains a chaotic, beautiful, rebellious force. FW25 isn’t just a collection - it’s a statement. And if this is the fashion apocalypse, consider us the willing undead, marching forward in our Moonrubber Megarides, ready for whatever AVAVAV dreams up next.
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Words by AW.
Photos courtesy of AVAVAV.