Wales Bonner’s latest collection with adidas is more than a mere collaboration—it’s a cultural time machine, pulling threads from the past and stitching them into a bold, present-day narrative.
Imagine a DJ mixing vinyl records from different decades, fusing soul, funk, and Hip-Hop into one groove-laden anthem. Bonner’s designs are the sartorial equivalent, remixing adidas classics like the Samba and Superstar, but with her unique rhythm—a beat drawn from British subculture, Caribbean roots, and the vast diaspora of African influence.
In this collection, Harlem serves as the canvas, with Renell Medrano’s lens capturing the raw energy of its streets, where Hip-Hop was born and bred. The sneakers, like rare vinyl gems, carry the crackle of history but spin with the clarity of modern production. The new Samba iterations aren’t just shoes—they're the poetry of the street, as if Bonner dipped them in the essence of old-school New York and let them marinate in its graffiti-streaked alleys.
The crocodile-embossed patent leather uppers—offered in warm toffee and deep indigo—feel like the rich textures of jazz improvisation, unpredictable yet harmonious. Cream-hued tongues and topstitches provide the contrast, like the skyline against a setting sun, subtle yet unforgettable.
The Samba Millennium takes this improvisation one step further, layering smooth leather with a crocodile print, as if playing with the idea of duality—softness meets edge, elegance meets grit. It’s as though Bonner is riffing on a theme, like a jazz musician returning to a familiar melody but introducing unexpected notes that keep you guessing, keep you hooked.
And then there’s the Superstar. No, not the same Superstar your parents wore while breakdancing in the park—this version has evolved, matured, and found its voice. Reptilian leather finish? Patent stripes? Satin lining? It’s a legend reimagined, a phoenix rising from the ashes of its own history, sporting a fresh coat of scales that glisten like the beats of a Hip-Hop anthem dropped at dusk.
Bonner’s apparel is where things get really groovy. Picture this: The streets of 1970s Harlem are alive with swagger and sound. Tracksuits in electric tangerine and turquoise hues stride by, while floral prints on shorts and cropped polos bloom like street murals. These aren’t just clothes—they’re a celebration, a callback to the era when Hip-Hop was a seedling, growing between cracks in the sidewalk, nurtured by the rhythm of life itself.
Every oversized adidas logo, stitched onto tees, jackets, and hoodies, acts as a bold stamp of identity, shouting its presence like a graffiti tag on the city walls.
Bonner departs from the whisper of today's “quiet luxury” trend—this collection is loud, unapologetic, and nostalgic. It’s like she’s flipped the record over, found a forgotten B-side, and cranked up the volume.
You can almost hear the boom-bap of the 808s as you slide into one of these pieces, ready to step back into the world as if you’re strutting down 125th Street with the whole city as your stage.
This Wales Bonner x adidas Originals FW24 collection isn’t just about style; it’s about story. It’s about legacy and reinvention. And when it drops on October 24, the world will have its chance to grab a piece of that narrative—whether it’s through adidas' web store, or select retailers.
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Words by AW.
Photos courtesy of Adidas.