Music, Connection and Community Are At the Heart of adidas SPZL's S/S 22 Collection

by SHOWstudio on 4 August 2022

Anchored in community, adidas' latest SPEZIAL campaign merges utilitarian-inspired design with 1970s dress codes. Add in a sprinkling of electronic music, and you have a collection that's equally inspiring as it is playful.

Anchored in community, adidas' latest SPEZIAL campaign merges utilitarian-inspired design with 1970s dress codes. Add in a sprinkling of electronic music, and you have a collection that's equally inspiring as it is playful.

If you've been left wondering when adidas SPEZIAL are going to release their next campaign, wonder no more. Thanks to designer Gary Aspden's teasing on Instagram earlier this week, the cult of collectors and fans which surrounds the brand went into overdrive with equal amounts of excitement and anticipation.

adidas SPEZIAL A/W 22 film exclusive

If you consider yourself a dedicated follower of adidas' SPEZIAL line, you'll be pleased to know that their S/S 22 collection doesn't stray too far from previous references. All of which are embedded in music, its fandom, its culture and its authenticity; the last of which is particularly demonstrated this time round thanks to adidas wearer (and Working Men's club frontman) Syd Minsky-Sargeant, who features at the forefront of the S/S 22 campaign. Minsky-Sargeant joins a host of musical legends such as Liam Gallagher, Chronix and New Order (to name a few) who have all once stood as the face of SPEZIAL collections prior. Although the singer may have a smaller fan base than that of Gallagher, the choice to cast him was a poignant and without doubt, personal one. Asked how Minsky-Sargeant reflects adidas SPEZIAL values, Aspden spoke of this decision, explaining:

'First and foremost Syd from Working Mens Club has been a wearer and supporter of adidas Spezial for a number of years - that was crucial in the decision to work together. It gives legitimacy to the project which is a good place to start from. Vocal about his appreciation of the work we do with Spezial... there are a lot of parallels between what myself and the team do with the products in Spezial and what Syd is doing musically with Working Mens Club.'

Syd Minsky-Sargeant of Working Men’s Club for adidas SPEZIAL A/W 22. Photography Kevin Cummins

The film that accompanies the launch - as one always does when it comes to adidas SPEZIAL - takes root in an exploration of electronic music and its relation to the North; another crucial reason for why Minsky-Sargeant and his band are the chosen faces of the campaign. Focusing on a raw and honest portrayal that encapsulates the relationship between sportswear and music, the film, as described by adidas, is 'a carefully curated marriage of now and then’ harking back to the electronic scene's earlier formations while also reflecting on the future. Commenting on his own relationship with SPEZIAL, Minsky-Sargeant confirmed 'a mutual interest in one another's creative outlet', going on to admit:

'I’ve been a fan of Spezial for some time. Gary, Mikey and Sam are all lovely and it’s been ace to collaborate on something up North - a place that lies at the core of both projects. Freedom of expression is massively important to me and I think that music and fashion are two of the freest forms of that.'

Syd Minsky-Sargeant of Working Men’s Club for adidas SPEZIAL A/W 22. Photography Kevin Cummins

Adding another personal layer, none other than trusted adidas collaborator and heralded music photographer Kevin Cummins also lent his talent to the campaign. Commissioned to transport the film into a series of still life shots, the subsequent imagery highlight other S/S 22 references as 1970s aesthetics and functional cues take hold through attention to silhouettes, elevated tracksuits and a selection of five trainer styles. Dutiful craft reveals itself through 'a new classic' of SPEZIAL, the 'Calavadella' jacket while the Portinatx shorts arrive in a sand-reminiscent colourway, emphasising key utilitarian aesthetics when paired together. Of course, this wouldn't be a SPEZIAL collection without an elevated tracksuit and so thanks to the brand's inclusion of the Marnach TT, even SPEZIAL looks for your comfy days are sorted. T-shirts and polos also appear in abundance, meaning the only setbacks adidas shoppers are about to face are to do with realising its styling choices are limitless. However, despite the excess of styling options, the collection itself is limited, so limited that you might want to check it out sooner rather than later. This one’s a good’n.

Syd Minsky-Sargeant of Working Men’s Club for adidas SPEZIAL A/W 22. Photography Kevin Cummins
Syd Minsky-Sargeant of Working Men’s Club for adidas SPEZIAL A/W 22. Photography Kevin Cummins

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