Shearling Jackets and French Rap Inspired this Adidas Superstar "Paris"

If you based your understanding of France's capital solely on the social media posts shared from Paris Fashion Week®, you might think everything was glitz and glamour. And while you can't be blamed, there's more to Paris than its tourist-friendly polish. A recently-surfaced Adidas Superstar II draws inspiration from this very notion.

Fresh off the world premiere of a punk-inspired tribute to London, the iconic shell-toe has emerged in an ensemble celebrating Paris' grungier side. The pair's "Core Black/Crew White" color scheme isn't as captivating as other offerings from the Adidas Originals catalog, but its point of reference is a lot more exciting. A textured leather build across the upper works in-tandem with fleece material on the tongue's underside to recreate the shearling jackets once synonymous with the streetwear scene in Paris and the surrounding area. French rappers throughout the late 1980s and 1990s commonly wore this style of jacket, drawing inspiration from the fashion scene across the U.S. Hubert Koundé's portrayal in 1995's La Haine film famously wore a shearling-lined jacket.

Other nods to Paris arrive in the form of modified trefoil logos on the spine and top-of-the-tongue. A lace dubrae marked with the number 75 denotes the INSEE (or area) number for the city and its suburbs; the motocross-inspired font used also nods to the past's street culture. Lastly, an orange gingham pattern appears on the insole. To the uninformed, the detail might be random, but it draws inspiration from Tati, the now-defunct discount department store that once sold shearling jackets alongside a plethora of other items. The pattern references the store's shopping bags, which also enjoyed a fashionable moment at one point.

Firm Adidas.com release details haven't been disclosed by the brand as of yet, but that's expected to change soon. In the meantime, enjoy official photos of the "Paris" Superstars below.

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