adidas Originals Consortium Rod Laver Collection – Drop 2

The signature shoe of several time world tennis champion, and still legendary George ‘Rod’ Laver, the adidas Rod Laver has been a mainstay for the brand, and now a central part of the Originals range since its 1970 launch. The key to its success? Utter simplicity. In line with court decorum and regulations of the era, the famous 3-Stripes were shorn for this shoe, and the purity of the Rod Laver set something of a standard for sneaker design – the move to pare down the corporate identity and let the silhouette do the talking is a landmark move too. Beyond favourite colour combinations like the traditional white and green, the material mix of leather and mesh kept things breathable and lightweight without compromising looks. This bare bones approach gave the shoe an ageless quality. A follow-up, wider, chunkier in the sole and with added midsole and heel branding became another icon and a worldwide Summer standard, notably deified in NYC as the timeless hot weather choice. Almost forty years after the original design’s introduction, it returned in a tweaked form for August 2009, retaining its iconic classicism for an ambitious adidas Originals Consortium project. Nine global Consortium partners, each famed for their innovative approach to retail, were given the Rod Laver to rework with their choice of colours, fabrics and more for release in extremely limited numbers at Consortium stores.

Drop one, containing an original makeup and collaborations with Undefeated, DQM, VA and D-Mop was universally acclaimed for its innovative, back-to-basics approach to the source silhouette. September 19th 2009 sees the release of drop two, maintaining the standards already set.

ACU
A division of the cutting edge CLOT brand, Shanghai’s ACU retailer redefined the sneaker retail experience in China, mixing tradition and technology with ease to set a store standard. Their take on the Laver is audacious and intelligent without compromising the evergreen wearable nature of the shoe. From Dusk ’till Dawn, with the words alternately placed on the heel patches of the left and right shoes respectively, the brown ponyskin on the upper is the most immediate touch, complimented by shades of grey in leather on the lacestay, tongue and toe. Amplifying the silhouette’s trademark material mix, the premium feel extends to the sockliner, a gold top eyelet, and brown ‘CLOT’ lettering on the heel tab, with this design finished with a matching brown outsole.