Adidas by Yojhi Yamamoto: Yohji's Sporty Groove
By Karl Treacy
Photos by Gruber-FWD
PARIS, Oct 13, 2002/ FWD/ --- Yohji Yamamoto let rip with a fantastic presentation of his
new sport line for Adidas at the slick Charlety stadium in southern Paris.
Anyone who muttered about schlepping out practically to the suburbs for a show that didn’t
start until after 11pm quickly lost any hang-ups as the drink flowed and food went down easily.
When the show’s performing gymnasts stopped tumbling, the curtains pulled back over what
had appeared to be a dividing wall but was actually a suspended walkway.
Under the full glare of lights were models on a conveyor belt.
Yamamoto has collaborated with Adidas on highly covetable trainers for his past few
collections, but here the relationship spawned into a full wardrobe of choice.
Sure there were plenty of basics, but Yamamoto dragged sports clothes out of a logo-fest
to produce pieces as subtle as a black zip front with the Adidas three stripes as a diagonal
arm detail or as full length hooded dresses, T-shirts and pants covered with extra large rose,
daisy and dahlia print.
The later were dramatically revealed when beaten metal panels on the platform opened
revealing floral clad models inside, with Madonna belting out "Get Into The Groove" in the
background.
As the male and female models stormed along the walkway or down steps and around the main
floor one thing failed to illuminate - the footwear.
Yamamoto seemed to have poured all his efforts into what happened from the ankle up and
forgotten the feet.
Boots with the back cut out will be sure fire hits with the cool kids but he never matched
the “gotta have” aspect of his pricey main-line creations.
Still, this was only the beginning, and if the reaction from the crowd as a red-hatted
Yamamoto took his bow is anything to go on, there’ll be plenty more time to develop.
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