With a clear and seismic shift away from its roots, the adidas Spezial line is announcing its arrival in the soccer market with a new concept, Spezial F.C., a project that will see adidas Spezial link up with football clubs partnered with the German sportswear giant. The first Spezial F.C. Collection is set to be neutral and non-generic, utilizing the Copa Mundial and Mundial Team in classic tones that declare no club allegiances, setting the adidas Spezial range to venture into new territory.
The previous adidas Spezial collections have been rooted in music and rave culture in the early 90s and heavily influenced by the experiences of curator Gary Aspden growing up in Northern England. He has previously insisted that he did not want Spezial to be "pigeonholed" and had purposely avoided the "low-hanging fruit of brand collaborations." The sudden shift with a soccer-dedicated collection and a promise of more to come that will evolve into club-specific merchandise is a first in the decade-long history of adidas Spezial.
There has always been a demand for adidas Spezial to release some non-allegient soccer products, and going back to the very early years of Spezial, Gary Aspden has expressed a desire to produce an SPZL soccer cleat for many years. The adidas Copa Mundial FG Spezial F.C. is crafted from premium leather at the Scheinfeld factory in Germany. Finished in the classic black and white style, trimmed by red accents, the Mod Trefoil logo appears upon the foldover tongue, with text declaring Made In Germany. Gold foil denotes Copa SPZL branding, parallel to the Three Stripes branding on the sides. Underfoot, a gum-colored midsole is combined with red firm ground footings.
Joined by the adidas Mundial Team Turf Spezial F.C., again crafted from premium black and white leathers, with a toe guard of sleek suede, more red accents appear at the heel and upper eyelets. A long, ribbed tongue that carries the Mod Trefoil branding is in place, with the text Made For Spezial F.C. underneath. A gum-coloured midsole sits atop a black indoor sports turf sole.
The adidas Mundial Spezial F.C. Collection will release on September 17, 2024, through adidas and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men's sizing, retail is $180 for the FG and $160 for the Turf. For updates on the latest from adidas and more in the sneaker and streetwear world, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Images via adidas
adidas Mundial Team Turf Spezial F.C.
adidas Copa Mundial FG Spezial F.C.
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Craig Bell happily talks about sneakers or as he calls them "trainers" every day of the year. An avid Bradford City fan, he's also a big supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles. He will forever profess that Cricket is better than Baseball and that Rugby League is better then Rugby Union. Among his many hot takes, he believes the adidas ZX range is the pinnacle of sneaker design.
