Craig Green has been met with overwhelming praise ever since his first show in 2013. But in recent years, the designer has faced criticism for his lack of originality, as past-beloved designs flooded the racks of current season wares. But with his Autumn/Winter ’22 collection, Green seemingly returns to form, as he incorporates unique and at times surrealist ideas for both the apparel and accompanying adidas collaboration.
Though it may not appear as itself, the Stan Smith is the star of the show; it walks down the runway confidently, obscured entirely in a shell of leather. Dyed either orange or black and bolted tight with silver metallic hardware, the cover somehow blends the aesthetics of a DIY mold and a protective hazmat suit. According to Vogue, Green wanted to emulate the feeling of wearing a pair of Stan Smiths without any of its iconic looks.
A mysterious, overly bulbous silhouette follows not far behind the Stan Smith, its design and bright yellow color akin to a floatation device. The shoe even features a breathing tube and inflation valve along the side, the latter of which can likely be used to adjust the size of the upper itself. And if not for the adidas logo plastered along the front, one wouldn’t be able to tell these were a collaboration at all.
What’s more, a number of relatively standard creations round out the range, some of which have hit the shelves for releases prior. For a quick look at what walked the runway, see below. More details, pricing, and release info will surface closer to the AW22 season.
Photos via @archived.dreams