Adidas and Stella McCartney dropped their latest collection—a line of “technical, all-condition” gear—Tuesday.
The versatile Earth Explorer range arrived just hours after Ella Emhoff, the face of the Fall/Winter collection, appeared at the 2021 Met Gala in custom Adidas by Stella McCartney. Emhoff, the 22-year-old stepdaughter of Vice President Kamala Harris whose cottagecore ensemble stole the attention of Inauguration watchers in January, appeared alongside former UCLA gymnast Nia Dennis and “Ozark” actress Julia Garner.
“If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that performance wear is not just for the gym—and the divide between luxury and sportswear has never been less relevant,” McCartney said in an interview published on Adidas’ website. “I don’t even think this new generation sees a difference between the two.”
Earth Explorer
Leading Adidas and Stella McCartney’s Earth Explorer collection is the Sleeping Bag Puffer Jacket, a large multi-purpose garment designed to block the wind and made with recycled polyester. The jacket features a full-zipped mesh hood, removable sleeves and an inner belt that wearers can use to carry the piece on their back should temperatures rise.
The apparel selection also includes the All-in-One Shiny Bodysuit, which is made from 100 percent recycled, form-fitting fabric, and Earth Explorer Overalls, composed of at least 40 percent recycled content.
The Winter COLD.RDY Boots lead the line’s footwear selection. Designed to keep warmth locked in, the boots feature an insulated sock, and Adidas’ chill-blocking COLD.RDY technology. Like many of the collection’s other items, the shoes are made with recycled materials, including in the upper, which is at least 50 percent Parley Ocean Plastic.
“I feel a very strong connection to the environment in the sense that to continue on as a world we need to protect it,” Emhoff said in a statement. “It’s really important that coming out of this we as a society start to really [[home] in on sustainable practices that help protect the environment. This is an issue that is really easy to not confront and almost give up, but I truly think that that alone should be the reason we fight even harder.”
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Adidas’ latest Stella McCartney collection comes just weeks ahead of its second with the Finnish design company Marimekko. Set to arrive Sept. 30, the limited-edition Fall/Winter line will feature lifestyle and performance apparel spanning training, tennis and swimwear, as well as footwear and accessories. As with the Earth Explorer collection, key pieces have been designed with recycled material.
The collection centers around one of Marimekko’s most famous patterns, designer Maiji Isola’s Unikko poppy print from 1964. The Adidas x Marimekko Fall/Winter 2021 line marks its first appearance in a sports apparel collection, according to Marimekko president and CEO Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko.