WANTO Collabs With Adidas Originals Again For SS19

After a much-hyped collaboration between adidas Originals and graffiti artist WANTO last year, the German sportswear giant is once again partnering up with the renowned Japanese vandal for a SS19 capsule of footwear and apparel. Known for his signature rebellious ’90s style, WANTO is a Tokyo native that founded the most important crew in Japanese graff — crew 246 — which boasts members from Japan, the US, Mexico, and Taiwan. A leading figure of modern graffiti in Asia, his new gritty collection with adidas Originals is highly anticipated by street art enthusiasts around the world.

Designed to reflect the type of workwear that the 246 crew head would put on in the nocturnal working hours, the capsule of gear carries an edgy yet debonair aesthetic with an assemblage of WANTO motifs, marked with subtle hand drawings. To kick off, we see a blacked-out tracksuit with three stripes on each arm made from 3M material; yellow piping on the exterior and a bright pattern on the interior liner, while reflective touches add some flair and visibility in the dimmed city streets. The new take on adidas Originals‘ famous Yung-1silhouette shows off a black suede upper with the same yellow colourway and reflective panels. Apart from the shoes’ breathable mesh overlay, Gore-tex fabric adds an extra layer of durability and protection on top of a tonal chunky sole. A simple white tee is also included in the collection, displaying the subtle three-stripes branding under the sleeves, along with WANTO’s signature tag emblazoned in yellow on the left chest.

The adidas Originals x WANTOSpring/Summer 2019 collection launches May 30 in-store and online. But for those in the New York area, an immersive art exhibition dubbed “I WANT CANDI” will be held at the adidasBrooklyn Farm space. Pieces of the collection will be unveiled and the activation also houses a variety of products and prints as well as interactive workshops.