The END. x adidas Manchester 89 Has Us Confused

END is hitting the shelves with a Made in Germany edition of the Manchester 89. Just like we predicted, this pair will be highly limited, with only a total of 500 units coming out of the Schienfeld factory in Germany.

If you're keen on grabbing a pair, best be sure to sign up to the END raffle on the 23rd of January.

British retailer END. reveals another adidas Manchester that has had our brains working overtime.

Sure, this next edition looks super tasteful, but we couldn’t help wondering what inspired such a neutral palette. Far removed from the typical blues, reds, and greens of prior adidas Manchester editions, I was definitely left scratching my head.

Initially I thought, is that it? Yet as time has passed, this could actually be one of the cleanest editions to date.

Arriving with the Made in Germany stamp of quality, this is the first time we’re getting a handcrafted ode to the north westerly city. Coming straight out of Scheinfeld, Bavaria, the same factory that produced the recent ZX 8000 “Lucid Aquamarine” (which instantly sold out), it’s clear that adidas is feeding its community of fanatics this year.

END’s teaser photo reveals a white mesh base, cream SPZL midsole, and hairy grey suede panels, flanked by a set of white 3 Stripes and silver foil Manchester 89 lettering. That neutral palette sits far from the 2020 edition’s bright acid house energy and the earthy tones of Size?’s last City Series version, showing just how broad the city’s influence can be.

So, what’s the inspiration? We can’t say for certain, as the team over at END. have yet to show their hand, but our money’s on Manchester’s industrial legacy. Dubbed Cottonopolis in its heyday, the city was once the beating heart of British textiles, its mills powered by soft water, coal, and sheer entrepreneurial graft.

That white mesh? Call it a nod to the raw cotton that once defined Manchester’s skyline and economy. The Made in Germany label ties that history of handcraft to a lineage of trainers passed through many skilled hands before landing on the shelves at END.

This drop also highlights adidas’ evolving use of MiG runs. Unlike New Balance’s formal “Made in USA/UK” programme, adidas uses these projects more selectively, subtle heritage nods that sit alongside more culture led collabs like Round Two’s playful Samba remix.

The END. x adidas Manchester 89 ‘Made in Germany’ will be available for raffle sign ups on 23rd January, launching a week later on 30th January 2026. Given it’s been crafted over in Bavaria, we expect units to be limited, so best set up a release reminder now to avoid the L.

Knowing how Manchester turns up for its shoes, we will keeping an eye out for a special END. store launch at the St. Mary's location. For more updates on upcoming adidas x END. collaborations, be sure to download The Sole Supplier app!