AN HOMAGE TO ICONS OF THE PAST 

Expertly curated by adidas archivist and Spezial founder Gary Aspden, adidas Originals by Spezial’s Autumn/Winter 2023 collection makes way for an exploration of the elevated and refined. Paying homage to past icons, signature styles are revisited and heroes are celebrated. 

Honouring the bond between the brand and football, the new collection features iconic footballer Roy Keane. The Autumn/Winter 2023 campaign follows Keane as he takes his dog Jet on a lakeside walk, presenting a deeply personal portrait of one of football’s most recognisable figures. The campaign goes beyond the pundit and the player to explore the man. Photographed by longtime adidas Originals by Spezial collaborator Kevin Cummins, modernist architecture and the awe-inspiring natural landscape of the Lake District make for distinct backdrops. 

The latest unveil features a footwear offering made up of seven unique silhouettes. The Moscrop 2 SPZL is reimagined in light grey with updated panelling and dye-cut EVA tooling. Another adidas Originals by Spezial classic, the Hiaven SPZL also returns in monochromatic black with an adi-Tex membrane to protect against the elements. 

A certified adidas icon, the Samba Deco SPZL features two new colourways paying homage to a 1980s football boot with one iteration referencing the colour palette of the original 1970s trainer. An evolution of styles passed, the Inverness SPZL arrives in a dark brown colourway to marry up with ready-to-wear pieces in the collection. Accompanying this outdoor silhouette is the Englewood SPZL – a low-top court shoe with a Campus 80s tooling that reinvents the late 80s Galaxy II high-top boot. And lastly, the Lawkholme SPZL takes the label’s sophisticated perspective on sportswear and deconstructs the aesthetics of 80s running shoes.  

Turning from footwear to apparel, the collection features highly crafted looks with a focus on recycled fabrics. Headlining the collection are distinct outerwear pieces – the now iconic pocket-heavy Haslingden Jacket and the colour-block water-resistant Moorfield Anorak –  accompanied by a versatile liner with gold embellished embroidery. The collection also plays host to an elevated tracksuit decorated with a wrap-around mountain graphic, alongside a jersey selection of tees, polos, crewnecks and hooded sweatshirts, offering several perfect layering opportunities. A logo beanie and fleece-lined cap featuring foldable flaps complete the collection.