Known worldwide for his playful designs, over the past three years, Zhang Quan has been bringing his signature whimsical aesthetic to some of adidas' most iconic sneakers. From the 3MC to the Campus, the Chinese artist is now adding the Adimatic and Superstar to his arsenal with the upcoming Melting Sadness x adidas "CNY" Pack. First teased back in November of last year, we've never seen anything quite like this.
One of the most unique Chinese New Year-themed collaborations that we've ever seen, the Adimatic is inspired by traditional dragon and lion dance costumes and does away with the usual all-suede construction. Melting Sadness' rendition boasts a woven canvas upper with oversized eyelets and a googly eyeball up top. A series of brass-hued bells surround the collar, and these are complemented by a gum rubber outsole underfoot. The Superstar, on the other hand, boasts ornate floral detailing with a white sherpa inner lining that nods to a rabbit's fur. A toothy grin replaces the usual deubre, while a large puff ball around the heel pays homage to the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac. This collection comes packed within special edition shoeboxes that have been made for both sneakerheads and fans of the contemporary artist.
Not much else is known about the Melting Sadness x adidas Originals 2023 CNY Collection at this moment in time, but they will release in 2023 in men's sizes via adidas, the CONFIRMED app, and select retailers worldwide. At this moment in time, a retail price has yet TBA, so make sure you keep it locked to Sole Retriever's Twitter andMobile App to find out everything that you need to know.
Images via Melting Sadness
Melting Sadness x adidas Adimatic CNY "Blue"