The latest chapter in the exploration of sportswear by Adidas and Yohji Yamamoto arrives with the Y-3 Spring/Summer 2424 collection, aptly themed “Contra-Natural.” This collection embraces the unconventional beauty arising from the convergence of organic and synthetic elements, pushing the boundaries of fashion to offer an audacious visual feast.
The Contra-Natural narrative is entrenched in the inherent tension integral to the Y-3 brand’s core. This amalgamation brings Adidas’ legacy of cutting-edge sporting innovation into alignment with Yohji Yamamoto’s elegant, avant-garde aesthetic philosophy. A palette replete with the brand’s signature shades – Y-3 Black, Solid Gray, and White – forms the backdrop against which a novel suite of colours spring forth. This season’s quartet of hues, Clay Brown, Mesa, Shadow Red, and Mint, find their roots in the process of oxidation, symbolizing nature’s reclaiming of the artificial.
The collection’s eclectic apparel is marked by daring cuts, sophisticated tailoring, and expressive silhouettes. The first seasonal drop incorporates digitally distorted floral graphics derived from real flower scans. A celebration of workwear aesthetics takes centre stage in the second drop, featuring refined garments crafted from cotton twill, equipped with cargo pockets, and adjustable hems. It also revisits the iconic Adidas Superstar Tracksuit with a touch of topographical map piping. The final drop blooms with summer-ready colours and Teamgeist soccer jersey-inspired garments, further emphasise the collection’s thematic focus with a digital rust print.
Beyond the realm of apparel, Y-3 stretches the boundaries of footwear design. The first drop brings forth reinterpretations of iconic Adidas Originals through the Yohji Yamamoto lens, introducing new silhouettes like the Y-3 STAN SMITH and the Y-3 COUNTRY, showcasing collapsible premium leather with piped details, and the Y-3 GSG9 LOW.
The second footwear drop welcomes the return of the Y-3 GENDO, the brand’s most progressive silhouette, and debuts the Y-3 S-GENDO RUN. This updated design slims down the profile and incorporates a Pebax plate and a contrasting floral graphic outsole with sporting tread. This drop also sees the return of the Y-3 KYASU in both low and high-top versions and the introduction of the Y-3 KYASU SLIP-ON with a stitched prime knit upper. Completing the footwear journey, the third drop introduces the Y-3 WATER SLIDE, Y-3 SANDAL, and an updated Y-3 ITOGO featuring an engineered print in place of traditional straps.
The collection’s thematic thrust extends to adaptable accessories. Standouts include soft leather tote bags, wallets, and cardholders featuring a distorted floral graphic in the first drop. The second drop brings durable nylon backpacks, totes, and holdalls, while the third drop offers a beach towel bag with fully detachable components.
The Y-3 Spring/Summer 2424 collection is a stunning display of uncompromising sporting elegance, subverting the conventional with bold juxtapositions and daring contrasts. In this distinct vision, Adidas and Yohji Yamamoto reaffirm their commitment to shaping the future of fashion sportswear, continually bridging the divide between the natural and the synthetic, the organic and the engineered. The result is a collection that is as thought-provoking as it is aesthetically pleasing, a testament to the relentless innovation and distinctive style that defines the Y-3 brand.
