A major source of inspiration for adidas Originals is their own rich history. A classic example of this is the timeless SL 72 silhouette. The model, which originated in 1972, recently underwent a re-release. To celebrate, Tom and Mats from the Sneakerjagers team were invited to visit adidas Originals' infamous World Headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
adidas World Headquarters
Shortly after the re-release of the adidas SL 72, Sneakerjagers' own Mats and Tom received an invitation to adidas' headquarters. Without hesitation, the two booked a ticket and made their way to Germany.
The bustling campus of the adidas World Headquarters is wide open. Using special adidas bicycles, you can move around the campus drenched in greenery, surrounded by impressive trees and blooming cherry blossoms.
Just a short drive from Nuremberg lies a sporting oasis. The place pays tribute to the brand's rich heritage and future innovations -an ideal place for sports enthusiasts and employees.
Homegrown Athlete Village
In addition to a wide variety of dining spots, there are many sports facilities. The Homegrown Athlete Village features soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, padel courts, swimming pools, and running trails. The place is the ideal place for sports activities and there is a sporty, energetic atmosphere.
The presentation space is spacious enough to experience a real-life 100-meter sprint. It not only provides a stage for their new collections, but it is also a tribute to adidas' athletic history.
The Archive
Another stop where you can delve into the history of adidas Originals on campus is the archives. Perhaps the highlight of these two days according to Tom and Mats. The archive includes a climate-controlled room filled with gems from the past. The room is carefully kept at 18 degrees Celsius and 55% humidity to ensure they remain in optimal condition.
To further regulate the temperature, the archive was only entered by small groups of people. Upon entering, each was given a pair of museum-quality white gloves to protect the products from the risk of damaging delicate materials, as some are the only ones in existence.
Mats reported: "No request was too crazy, you could ask for a very special pair of shoes, and before you knew it, you had them in your hands."
The worn and signed soccer shoes of Messi and Beckham were the greatest finds for Mats. The archive is hugely impressive. It includes old prototypes, famous collaborations, and unreleased and historic shoes.
Tom's personal favorite from the archive was the adidas ZX 8000 'Aqua'. Even all the World Cup final footballs from 1970 to the last final in 2022 can be found there.
"Human encyclopaedias"
They also have a selection of empty shoeboxes from past years. All these special products with their own story are carefully arranged in the tall grey filing cabinets. The four employees who keep the archives and also show them around came across as human encyclopaedias.
"They really have a love for the brand and the products they work with" - Tom.
MakerLab
The next activity on the agenda was the adidas MakerLab. This is a hub where experimentation is allowed and where collaboration, exchange, and exploration come together. A place where new ideas come to life and where boundaries are pushed with pioneering technologies such as 3D printing.
As mentioned earlier, adidas Originals draws inspiration from its own heritage. This is also true with the adidas SL 72 silhouette. During a presentation at the MakerLab, Mats and Tom got all the information about the sneaker to which this trip was due.
The origins of the adidas SL 72 go back to, you guessed it, 1972. The sneaker was first introduced at the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. The running shoe was the first adidas sneaker to receive the well-known Trefoil logo.
After great popularity among athletes, adidas Originals is breathing new life into the shoe this year with some modifications to suit today's times. Mats explains that as a first step, adidas Originals had bought some old pairs of the SL 72 through eBay: "adidas first wanted to make sure the silhouette could be styled within contemporary trends." This pleased them, after which the redesign process began.
Two versions of the SL 72
Two different silhouettes of the latest adidas SL 72 have been released. The women's silhouette has a lower profile and slightly less volume. The men's model, on the other hand, is wider with a firmer sole. Many colors of the reissue are based on colors from the SL 72's past. The 'Blue' colorway is one of these, an original of which can be found in the archives.
Revolutionising the world of athletic footwear as a lightweight running shoe, the SL 72 is an ode to the history of adidas Originals. Over the years, the sneaker has become a cultural symbol and a favourite among sneaker enthusiasts.
With its reissue, the SL 72 remains a timeless design that fortunately remains relevant in the world of sportswear and streetwear.
The Sneaker Update
Curious for more stories about visiting the adidas World Headquarters? Then listen now to the podcast episode of The Sneaker Update on Spotify: 'A dive into the adidas Archives And HQ'. Here, Tom and Mats talk about their absolute highlights from the archives and, of course, the re-release of the adidas Originals SL 72.
See more images from the trip to the adidas World Headquarters below.
