London-based product designer Mr. Bailey has teamed up with adidas to reimagine the iconic Superstar. The “Ammonite Superstar: The Evolution of the Shell Toe” is an otherworldly retooling of the classic silhouette that explores contemporary footwear manufacturing through an underwater lens.
While dissecting the signature Shell Toe, Mr. Bailey looked to ammonites for inspiration. These are a group of extinct marine mollusks with the same family class as the octopus. As the designer points out, ammonite fossils are recognized for their ribbed spiral-form shell, an element that has been translated onto the one-of-one sneaker concept.
Mr. Bailey’s wearable Superstar sculpture finds the Shell Toe extending to an exaggerated and segmented sole unit that gives the appearance that it is growing from the upper of the shoe. The circular chambers of the sole are directly inspired by the ammonite shell and its functional purpose of providing buoyancy and stability to the cephalopod.
Elsewhere on the sneaker, the upper is constructed from engineered nylon, while 3M accents offer reflecting detailing. The Superstar is then branded with a new stacked Trefoil logo.
Mr. Bailey has unveiled his one-off Superstar design in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the silhouette and adidas Originals’ Catalyst for Change program. Unfortunately, the sneaker will not be released.
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