Up-and-coming designer Dingyun Zhang is gradually making his name and eponymous label rise above the radar. After releasing his debut collection at the start of the year the Central Saint Martins graduate has announced his first footwear collaboration with adidas.
Instilling his fluid, transformative and abstract approach to the classic adidas Originals Samba model, the resulting sneakers turn out to be much more palatable and versatile than expected. While puffed-up and exaggerated proportions make up Zhang’s signature design language, these codes are imbued within the sneaker in a more subdued manner.
Dressed in a “Core Black” colorway, the collaborative Samba is infused with a touch of textural contrast through a suede and patent leather upper. As a result, the emblematic adidas Three Stripes are incorporated in patent leather to seamlessly camouflage within the show’s quarter panels. Meanwhile, suede is used on the eye stay, mudguard as well as heel tab. The heel tab and collar area are accented with a slightly padded construction that nods to Dingyun Zhang’s design codes without appearing too bulky.
Set to release on May 10, the Dingyun Zhang-collaborated Samba “Core Black” sneakers will be available to shop via adidas.
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