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.