Pair of child's trainers, Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Glow, Kanye West for adidas, 2019

Pair of child's trainers, made from bright green woven synthetic fibres, with a moulded sole constructed from thee layeys of polyurethane. Along the outside of each is a transluscent 'window' of off-white woven plastic.

Purchased in 2020 [2020/150]

adidas is the world’s second largest sportswear brand after Nike and is the largest headquartered in Europe. adidas was founded in Germany shortly after the end of the First World War by Adolf Dassler, whom the company was named after using a contracted form of his name.

adidas have had a long and successful association with various professional and amateur sports and sportspeople. They were key in the development of modern running spikes and their reputation grew after the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where Jesse Owens had won four gold medals wearing adidas shoes. After the 1952 Helsinki Olympics adidas acquired its famous three stripe logo from Finnish footwear brand Karhu Sports.

From the 1970s onwards, the close association between adidas and sporting success aided a growth in its popularity as a fashion brand. 1980s street fashion emanating from New York featured sneakers as a key component, and endorsements by hip-hop artists such as Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys placed adidas at the front of the pack.

In more recent years, adidas have collaborated with a number of designers and artists from across disciplines. One of their most successful collaborations has been with recording artist Kanye West, which began in 2013. West had previously designed trainers for Nike, and had collaborated with several high fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton. West’s Yeezy trainers for adidas are considered some of the most influential designs in the world today. Released in relatively small batches, Yeezy trainers are highly sought after, with pristine pairs being sold and resold online for considerable sums.

B.944:1, 2-2020