Foot Patrol x adidas Superstar Consortium

• MODEL: ADIDAS SUPERSTAR VINTAGE
• SERIES: ADIDAS SUPERSTAR 35TH ANNIVERSARY
• TYPE: BASKETBALL
• DESIGNED BY: Foot Patrol
• MADE IN: INDONESIA
• MADE ON: 11/04
• LIMITED TO 300 PAIRS
• ART.NO: 133740

On the morning of New Year’s day, 2005, adidas released the first part of their 35th Anniversary Superstar collection to huge acclaim. The top tier of this collection and arguably the most sought after were the Consortium Series releases. Available in extremely limited numbers (as much as 700 and as low as 300 on some shoes) and released in only a handful of carefully selected stores worldwide they caused hysteria amongst sneakerheads with many people braving the bitter seasonal weather and camping out so that they could lay claim to a pair of these much anticipated, ultra limited sneakers.

Based in London, Foot Patrol was set up with the idea of filtering through the mass of styles and brands to present their own view on what they consider to be the most interesting and unique sneakers available. Co-founders Michael Kopleman and Simon Porter were responsible for the design of the Foot Patrol Superstar, the second shoe in the 35th Anniversary Series. They wanted a colorway which took influence from their stores military theme. Feeling it was pointless to revisit previous ideas or replicate classic Superstar colorways they were trying to achieve something that was bold and unexpected whilst also acknowledging the shoes history. They felt green wasn’t a color typically used within sports and this helped subvert the shoe from its original, intended purpose – basketball – and move it more towards street wear, making it a functional, versatile garment that could be worn with a wide range of other wardrobe staples.

The Consortium releases – unlike the rest of the 35th Anniversary series – used the adidas Superstar Vintage silhouette, and this shape is characterised by a few changes to the well known Superstar. The familiar adidas herringbone outsole, in addition to its cream color, is much slimmer than on other previously released Superstar models, which gives the shoe an altogether closer fit around the foot arch. The heel tab and collar are not as high as on modern superstars and the tongue is both skinnier and shorter, delivering a new shape that proved popular amongst collectors.

The upper and tongue are both dominated by a soft, lush, mossy green suede. The stripes on either side and heel tab are a soft luxurious dark olive green leather. The collar inside the shoe is a lighter shade of olive green. The upper is finished with subtle branding in the form of the ‘FP’ logo on the counter of the right shoe and complimented with the familiar Foot Patrol ‘Gas Mask Logo’ on the left shoe heel counter. The shoe is accented with gold details in the form of an adidas superstar emblem adjacent to the stripes and a Consortium ‘handshake’ lace jewel.

The sneakers come packaged in a specifically designed white and black 35th Anniversary box with matching tissue paper. The bottom of the box depicts the 35 models within the series with release dates and worldwide quantities. As well as the accompanying off white laces included are three extra pairs of the vintage style laces in matching shades of green.

Since it’s original opening in 2002 the Foot Patrol store has gained many fans along the way who have became enamoured by the friendly, knowledgable staff and their love of bringing only the very finest sneakers and apparel to the fore. For these reasons the FP 35th is particularly revered amongst UK collectors and accepted universally as one of the standout models amongst the 35th Consortium Series and is a much prized addition to even the most selective of collectors.

written by Ross Macwaters

photography by errol