CP Company x adidas Spezial Collection
In 2021, adidas Spezial and CP Company came together in celebration of the heralded Italian brand’s 50th anniversary, debuting the Italia CP SPZL trainer. Since then, the collaborative shoe has become one of the most desirable silhouettes in culture. Now, adidas SPZL and CP Company has returned with a complete apparel, footwear, and accessories collection – this time honouring the label’s 10th anniversary.
Marking the arrival of the collection in truly authentic fashion, an ensemble cast of the two labels’ long-time confidants has been assembled for a campaign that is based on shared experience, raw talent and genuine friendship. Featuring Ashley Walters, Stephen Graham, Goldie, Robert Brooks, and Toby Mclellan, the cinematic tale drifts between documentary and theatrical performance – weaving a narrative of camaraderie and celebration. The film is directed by &SON and photography by heralded music photographer Kevin Cummins.
The footwear offering features six unique adidas SPZL silhouettes, told through the lens of CP Company. To start, the CP Wimberly SPZL is inspired by a rare perforated Canadian version of the adidas Universal from the '80s and arrives in two different material makeups. The first version uses shades of White and Cream in a similar palette to the colourway of the vintage Universal, updating it with modern and premium materials. The leather upper features webbing 3-Stripes with zig zag deco stitching, along with serrated eye stays and a perforated toe box. The second iteration features an entirely suede base for the upper.
Next, inspired by the adidas Nepal, a hi-top outdoor boot, the CP Helvellyn SPZL is a winter-ready silhouette in a timeless Sand and Grey colourway comprising of suede overlays, mesh underlays, gun-metal D-rings, with a gusseted tongue and outdoor leather lining. The CP SL 83 SPZL, meanwhile, is an extension of the design language of the adidas SL 82 with an added T-toe and a mix of different materials to create slightly different shades of olive green on the upper.
Last, and certainly not least, two SPZL icons make their return. In the CP Manchester SPZL, one of the most sought-after silhouettes in the brand’s history is reintroduced for the anniversary and reinterpreted through C.P. Company’s lens, with updated premium materials, added eyelets and zig zag stitching on the stripes. At the same time, the collaborative CP Italia SPZL is brought back in a premium leather makeup with a suede T-toe and a Royal Blue/White colourway as a nod to the previous collaboration.
In a bold revision of classic looks that bridges both the legendary Italian label and Gary Aspden’s ongoing homage to the Three Stripes archive – iconic apparel pieces from throughout the storied history of both brands are reworked and reimagined in an authentic cultural exchange. The apparel playfully integrates the design language of SPZL into the graphic iconography of C.P. Company. Namely the C.P. Company sailor and the graphic placements on the 1980s Mille Miglia jackets.
The lineup includes a sweatshirt featuring the iconic C.P. Company sailors donned head to toe in an adidas SPZL outfit and both a short sleeve and long sleeve pocket tee that each give a nod to the graphics of C.P. Company's early Mille Miglia jackets. Other pieces include a collaborative logo tee and a half zip knit which updates the first ever Mod Trefoil apparel piece from the very first season of SPZL in 2014. A matching track top and pants are produced in a fine needle cord and premiumise the Settend 2 tracksuit released by adidas SPZL back in 2015.
Highlighting the apparel selection are two outerwear jackets: the CP SPZL Puffer Jacket and the CP SPZL Flying Jacket. Both looks boast the highest levels of Italian craftsmanship and feature detachable branding options. Crafted from flat nylon, an opaque nylon with a light resin finish on the reverse, each jacket features front pockets, embroidered logo patches on the chest, and the iconic C.P. Company lens on the left wrist, custom-designed for this collaboration. The Flying Jacket draws inspiration from classic aviation styles, highlighted by a fleece-lined collar that adds both comfort and a nod to vintage flight jackets.
