Adidas Originals has been delivering nostalgia for 28 years, allowing so many of the brand's iconic sports styles to live second, third, and fourth lives as fashionable footwear. With spring on the verge of commencing, the division has revisited the Tokyo from the 1970s, reimagining it as a compelling model for women.
Similar to the Bad Bunny-approved Taekwondo Mei, the Adidas Tokyo provides a low-profile option for those who've grown a bit tired of the Samba and Handball Spezial. Its thin construction harkens back to the model's origins in sport, which focused on shedding weight to ensure athletes could get through their training with minimal foot fatigue. The minimal outsole also offers an enhanced ground feel, starkly contrasting to the chunky AdiStar Control 5 and other performance-runners from the 2000s.
The Tokyo-inspired design was last alluded to via Adidas Originals' partnership with Human Made, a brand founded in the early 2010s by NIGO®. Where history gets tricky is in differentiating between the Three Stripes' Tokyo and Tokio. Quick Google searches for both provide after-market listings for both styles, with the latter showcasing a vintage runner with more cushioning across the bottom half.
A newly-surfaced old-school design style further distances it from its performance past. A fabric construction takes on the bulk of the upper, which skews towards a tonal "Core Black" and "Cream White" finish, respectively. Profile 3-Stripes, tongues, and X-shaped overlays on the spine deviate in textured leather. Shimmering golden branding on the lateral side steals some attention, but it pales in comparison to the multi-colored flower embroidery that appears across the upper. This touch cements the pair as a compelling footwear choice for those looking for heritage in a fashion-forward package.
The women's Tokyo silhouette is expected to see global Adidas.com launch throughout spring. The shoe typically retails for a budget-friendly $90, but the special Floral style could fetch a slightly higher price tag given its embroidered details.
Enjoy official photos of the two pairs below, and head over to House of Heatº's expansive Adidas Release Dates Calendar to stay up-to-date on this and other offerings—including the Stan Smith Low Ballet.
