Master of streetwear Yohji Yamamoto has done it again. His Adidas collaborative brand Y-3 continues to push the envelope between sleek sportswear and high fashion. Nic Galway, global senior VP of design at adidas, explains that “for the Y-3 Fall/Winter 2019 collection, we focused on three eras that were crucial to both adidas and Yamamoto: the ’70s, the ’80s, and the ’90s. “It’s Icons meet icons.” We interpreted our individual codes through the lens of one another from those eras. The footwear range includes directional, low-profile sneakers, elevated court trainers, and modernized reissued versions from the original collaboration between Yohji Yamamoto and adidas.”
Of course, the collection is first and foremost about the sneakers. The first sneakers Yamamoto ever designed for adidas were updated in various colorways to “still look fresh,” said the designer. “A bit of nostalgia.” The Y-3 ZX Torsion sneaker is a futuristic update of the 1984 ZX, and the Mangostin is now the Manja racer sneaker. Other sneakers this season included the Runner 4D, Yuuto, FYW S-97, Hokori, Regu, and Yuben Mid.
Longline zippered hoodies with “YOHJI” printed across the chest doubled as dresses while the genderless jumpsuits are intended to be an alternative to eveningwear according to the designer. A white ribbed knit top with a matching scarf and track pants that could also pass as trousers felt too luxe to be considered streetwear. Trending accessories like oversized bum bags worn across the chest and leather bucket hats were the final icing on the cake for the on-pointe collection. Many of the looks were mostly monochromatic in black and white with mini pops of florals in blue, red, and orange.
When asked about the growing competition in streetwear, Yamamoto said, “adidas and myself, we’ve both been around long enough not to be worried about this.” Galway added to that, “we’d rather be true to our world and not look at what others are doing; in this collection we wanted to celebrate what brings us together, and what makes us unique.” “It’s a marriage—we’re like family.” “Our collaboration is a true friendship. Sportswear brands, they change designers every two years. Our roots are more deep,” says Yamamoto.
See All the Looks from the Collection
