adidas Phantom 

MADE ON: –/85

After 27 years we finally saw the return of the running model Phantom in 2013.  adidas Originals delved deep into their archives once again and brought one of their most sought after runners back to life.

In an era when other companies were using synthetic materials on their shoes to make them lighter and cheaper, the Phantom’s utilised real suede and nylon mesh on the upper with a 3M heel tab so you could be seen clearly on your late night jogs. The use of these materials helped it stand out from the crowd. This also made it easier to wear on a more casual basis which lead to it fusing into street wear and casual culture.

The Phantom was also one of the few adidas trainers to feature straight stripes instead of stripes with jagged edges (like the Micropacer and Rising Star from 1984). These small details gave the silhouette a more futuristic and unique appeal, causing mixed reactions between trainer connoisseurs and the general public.

Due to their rare availability (pre re-issue) and distinctive looks, they’ve been on trainer collector’s and connoisseurs wanted list for over two decades. Now that they are back on shelves there’s a whiff of nostalgia in the air as people walk into stores and remember the first time they saw them back in the mid 1980’s. adidas have done a great job on making it look as close to the original and everyone is pleased because of that.

Roughly around the same time, adidas also released a women’s version of the Phantom in a pool blue colourway which has also been recently re-issued.

Photography: errol

Text: Joel Stoddart