adidas London Church’s

• MODEL: ADIDAS LONDON
• SERIES: ADIDAS CONSORTIUM
• MADE IN: VIETNAM
• MADE ON: --/12
• ART.NO: Q34122

Never one to miss an opportunity of some publicity, here we have yet another release of the popular London model from adidas, to coincide with the Olympics.

Now don’t all head for the hills screaming, as these are a little different to the JD offerings of late. In fact, these are something a little bit special. A Consortium collaboration, this time with one of the oldest surviving English shoe manufacturers, Church’s of Northampton. Released in two colourways, brown and the blue, there are slight variations between the two, which in itself is a little bit quirky. Before I highlight the variations, let’s get to the actual shoe’s build quality for the premium price tag, and answer that always pending question: is it worth the outlay?

The answer is a definite yes in my opinion, as the build quality on them is superb! The first thing you’re greeted with when you open the brown cantilevered, monogrammed box, is the strong aroma of leather, a smell of quality like a bespoke piece of luggage. Although the irony is that they’re made in Vietnam, and not in England, the premium Church’s suede used is a joy to behold. Its leather lined insoles and subtle detailing on the stripes – rather than going for a full brogue effect upper – just adds that little something extra.

Love it or hate it, the detail on both pairs is a Union flag on the heel, which is all red on the blue version, and red, white, and blue on the brown. Both models have the Church branding on the tongues and insoles, and although the brown version has a choice of laces, strangely, the blue do not. Both versions have different coloured sole units too, a light gum sole for the blues, and a chocolate brown to compliment the brown model, which both work well, although I think the light gum just clinches it of the two.

Available through the usual premium sellers in a limited run, these are definitely worth a pickup, both colours if you can, as you will not be disappointed.

written by Mike Stopforth

photography by errol