This fall, Adidas by Stella McCartney is harnessing the power of nature to create “more power, less impact.”
The Fall/Winter 2018 iteration of the activewear collaboration features layer-friendly, animal-inspired pieces designed to encourage female athletes to “take a walk on the wild side and move with instinct” no matter what Mother Nature throws at them, the brand announced earlier this month.
There’s a deftness in the details that belies the muted palette of blacks and grays. Glossy side panels and snakeskin accents add interest to an otherwise staid tank top, for example, while graphic florals do the same for a performance tee. Mesh cutouts and subtle color blocking punctuate a set of sleek running tights. A pair of Ultraboost sneakers flaunt a leopard motif on the uppers and midsoles. And practical measures abound, such as the side zippers that make the fleece sweatpants easy to don and take off.
The collection marks a milestone in sustainability, too, with planet-pandering materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, Parley for the Oceans’ reclaimed marine waste and Econyl’s regenerated nylon comprising more than half of the apparel and a third of the footwear this season.
This development dovetails with Stella McCartney’s own vaunted dedication to a greener fashion industry.
“Last season, we launched an ambitious journey with our mission [of] less impact equals more power. Now, we’re taking that commitment one step further,” McCartney said in a statement. “It’s time to be the difference we want to see. To act now and to mean more in all we do.”
Other innovations in the range include Adidas’s temperature-regulating Climaheat and shock-absorbing Boost technologies.
The launch of the collection coincides with the announcement of Ming Xi, a Shanghai-born supermodel, as the new global Adidas by Stella McCartney ambassador.
‘The way Adidas and Stella McCartney come together in their collaboration is unrivalled,” said Xi, who appears in the FW18 campaign. “I am really inspired by the brand’s ambition to make a difference and its devotion to sustainability, which I can’t wait to get involved in.”