adidas CNTR 2013

• MODEL: ADIDAS CNTR 2013
• SERIES: ADIDAS CONSORTIUM
• MADE IN: VIETNAM
• MADE ON: --/13
• ART.NO: Q34001
• FACTORY: SHW 675001

With all the lesser known models that adidas has given birth to over the years, they could build a trefoil covered army. One of these models that slipped through the toes of consumers almost thirty years ago was the Centaur. It was released as an everyday running shoe back in 1984. Unfortunately its spotlight was almost immediately shined elsewhere when the ZX series presented its superiority that same year. Marketed as the “Family of the Future”, the ZX series offered running technology that the Centaur couldn’t live up to. It was left in the dust, with nothing to do but fade out over time as an unappreciated silhouette.

Though this time around, I feel that the Centaur (now CNTR) won’t be kicked aside so quickly. Not only is it being brought back in unremitting releases this year, they’ve decided to strip it down to the roots while simultaneously advancing the model forward. While the futuristic technology may have won the ZX’s their spot on the shelf back in the 80s, it’s the old school look that’s grabbing trainer-lovers’ attention nowadays.

You’re probably still glancing back at the photos of this shoe constantly wondering what the hell I’m talking about when I mention its advancements. You look at the outsole and see nothing fancy. You look at the upper and nothing stands out. Maybe you even take a freeze on the laces, and still find nothing to see… Well that’s the point. They didn’t add anything. In fact, they took something away. All the thread normally used to make a shoe has been taken out of the picture and replaced with a heat sealing process, hence the name “No-Sew”. Not only does it leave the upper aesthetically cleaner, it takes away the .0001 ounce of thread that was giving us all dramatic back pains.

While I’m not a big fan of synthetic leathers, it fits the character of the shoe by using synthetic suede instead of genuine suede, and I respect that decision. But the flashing red and only red colors (or should I say color) of the upper doesn’t leave me with a smile on my face. All grey and all blue sneakers (the other two first round release choices of the CNTR) are seen all the time because they’re comfortable colors, knowing that you can basically slip on the first shirt you see on you floor and look fine with them. But when it comes to bright colors – and you know you’re going to need to put a bit of effort into making it not look funny anyway – you might as well add a few more colors into the mix as well. But I have to say: the shoe’s sleek tip design, humdrum colorway, and paper thin materials make it honestly look weightless. I’m excited to see what direction they take with this shoe next.

written by Kyle Zemborain

photography by errol