adidas SL 72 Vintage

• MODEL: ADIDAS SL 72
• MADE IN: VIETNAM
• MADE ON: --/11
• ART.NO: 909495

The adidas SL 72 was first released in 1972 for the Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. This 2011 re-release is aptly titled the SL 72 Vin (short for vintage) to pay homage to that classic, sleek, and straight-forward look.

It features a royal (“Air Force”) blue, nylon upper, mixed with soft “slate” gray leather on toe box, eyelets, lower side edges, and heel, contrasted with white side stripes, laces, and upper heel patch, and finally accented with a thin, firm, inlay of red above the “track-inspired” outsole. In addition the low-cut running trainer is textile lined for comfort and fitted with a thin, punctured tongue for easy breathing. The toe box is further supported with a rough bumper to help the shoe hold up under extended wear and tear.

With a circular, shining gold sticker placed inside each shoe, the black printing – “Weltberühmt Durch Qualität adidas / 70s” (roughly translated to “World Famous Quality by adidas / 70s”) – clearly states the pride Adi had for his shoes back in the 1970s. Packaged in a royal blue, adidas Originals box, these throw-backs are sure to be a hit for vintage sneaker fans out there that can’t find or can’t afford the OG’s from ’72.

written by Dylan Cromwell

photography by Thomas Muslow

shoes contributed by Anke Buchmann