adidas Basket Profi

• MODEL: ADIDAS BASKET PROFI
• SERIES: ADIDAS CONSORTIUM
• MADE IN: INDONESIA
• MADE ON: --/12
• ART.NO: Q34439

This winter (2012) adidas proves they’re not full of empty promises when it comes to the Consortium series. Once known as a platform for a variety of super high quality, incredibly unique, ultra limited, and inevitably sought after collaborative releases, the series itself had slipped into a state of confusion and blurred direction. That was before the Tabula Rasa drop of 2011 and the follow-up collection of Your Story silhouettes that told a variety of Olympic tales through the voice of ten trainers. These drops left heads wondering what was coming next, and, of course, raised concerns that adidas was simply off to another great start only to trot downhill eventually.

Their first women’s collection, however, proves that they’ve heard the masses accurately and are staying true to the concept that Consortium was originally intended for. Including two collaborative models – a Gazelle Vintage by WOOD WOOD and a ZX 700 by Sneakersnstuff – the third pair shown here is a Basket Profi designed by adidas Originals alone. This isn’t out of practice, as they did the Your Story BC MMXII themselves, and it makes sense in both cases; adding in a final shoe to round out the release numbers (three is certainly a nicer package than two would’ve been).

Kudos to adidas for raising to the challenge without going (too) overboard. The tactile cracked leather upper is definitely a bold move, appearing simple and smooth from afar, but giving the shoe a rough character upon closer inspection. This is subdued significantly with the heel tab and lining, both made from a soft, polka-dotted suede. The final material touch comes from the nubuck stripes, which greatly contrast the upper patterning and texture.

One thing that wasn’t changed in the new design was the honey-colored outsole, still present in its original, funky form. Considering the reintroduction that the Basket Profi experienced in earlier 2012, its not a surprise that adidas Originals would push it a bit further in this collection. And while the treatment is a surefire winner, it’s only a question of whether or not the Basket Profi was the right silhouette to go Consortium, so we’ll just have to wait for sales to show this in time.

Speaking of droppin’ loot on these creamy, cracked kicks, they’ll be available with the rest of the collection at No. 6 London, No. 74 Berlin, WOOD WOOD, and Sneakersnstuff boutiques in a full range of women’s sizes. So whether you’re a refined runner, casual gal, or basketball babe, there’s a pair for you in this series no doubt.

written by Dylan Cromwell

photography by errol