adidas Zürich

• MODEL: ADIDAS ZüRICH
• SERIES: ADIDAS CITY SERIES (EUROPEAN CITY SERIES)
• MADE IN: INDONESIA
• MADE ON: --/04
• ART.NO: 552604

The adidas Zürich is yet another classic silhouette from the sprawling City Series. While the OG shoe is hard to come by in vintage form, these 2004 re-releases shouldn’t be as difficult to get your paws on if you’re craving some Swiss action.

These retro Zürichs feature the same colorway and build as the original versions from the 70s or 80s, though we’ve seen some OG versions with light blue stripes on the royal blue colorway and also lacking the red trim on the midsole.

Overall the City Series shoes aren’t the easiest to review; as for dropping knowledge many of them are shrouded in mystery (in regards to why the specific city was chosen and how the original colors were matched with it, not to mention their massively unknown release dates and production numbers) and for the purpose of comparison, coming across a vintage pair and retro pair side by side simply isn’t an everyday activity.

One thing that is for sure is the strikingly ‘Original’ colorway, complimentary to adidas’ line of casual clothing and footwear (due to the “royal” blue and white combination). The shoes themselves blend the sporty and laid-back look perfectly, thanks in part to the darker blue toe box layer, placed mainly for reinforcement and enhanced durability. What can’t be gleaned from these photos is the ample padding in the mid-foot and the wide range of movement allowed in ankle and toe areas.

Overall the Zürich can be said to uphold a variety of qualities for different types of shoe lovers. Collectors and casuals will absolutely hunt these down (especially in OG form) for the symbolic nature they represent, soaked in nostalgia of the ‘golden years’ of terrace fashion culture. Meanwhile the regular Joe’s and plain Jane’s of the world will rejoice in this colorful pair of comfortable, light weight trainers, whether or not they understand (or even care about) the history behind the silhouette. And, of course, the Swiss fans out there can rock a pair they can truly call their own. That is, after all, the whole point of the City Series, no?

written by Dylan Cromwell

photography by errol