#FactsFriday ”“ The return of the adidas Campus
adidas once again dip into the archives of the 1980s – and have decided to revive one of the classics: the adidas Campus. If you’re a fan of the classics like the adidas Superstar, Gazelle or Stan Smith you are going to love their sibling Campus. Campus which has a solid place in the history of adidas; however, it was never seen in the limelight. 2017 is set to be the revival of Campus and its assertion in the current sneaker landscape.
Starting off properly on the basketball court back in the 1980’s, the Campus arrived at a time when adidas were already doing great things in the sporting world. The Superstar’s textured toe-piece was already turning heads alongside the elevated Pro Model, and on the football side Gazelle reigned supreme. The adidas Campus was originally called ‘Tournament’ in the early 1970s and was renamed ‘Campus’ in 1980. The style began life on the court – a low-top basketball sneaker that eventually transitioned into a casual skate shoe with a vulcanised sole.
Campus began making an impact in sneaker history in the place that hip-hop was born: New York City. adidas’ influence during this time accelerated thanks to bands like Run-D.M.C and The Beastie Boys. As a result, Trefoil and Three-Stripes soon became a core aspect of hip-hop culture. The Beastie Boys relentlessly wore the classic Campus throughout their career, even after the Campus ceased production in 1987. The hip-hop band continuously highlighted the superiority of Campus in comparison to the new and widely popular Gazelle. It was their love for utilitarian design and continuous endorsement of Campus that saw a return of the style in the mid-1990s.
Further down the line there have been some great releases that have added extra clout behind the Campus lineage. Hip Hop outfit House of Pain created their own Irish themed tribute, a full reflective 3M treatment appeared to kick off a popular material trend that others followed, and premium Consortium level reworkings by Footpatrol, BAPE & UNDFTD and Japanese design heavyweight Kazuki Kuraishi have also helped elevate the silhouette.
Today, Campus arrives back, fresher than ever. The sleek style lands with soft suede uppers, signature adidas three-stripes and a chunky rubber sole unit. So if you’re looking to update your adidas collection with an 80s classic, then the adidas Campus is the style for you.
Shop now
adidas Originals Campus - Black/White
adidas Originals Campus - Bold Aqua/White
adidas Originals WMNS Campus - Crystal White/Icey Pink