adidas-t-master

adidas T-Master

ART NUMBER: 

MADE ON: 

MADE IN: WEST GERMANY

FACTORY: 

T-Master, probably one of the rarest models from the 3 stripe stable for the collector. Stemming from adidas jumping aboard the bandwagon and making free usage of the German confederation of sports marketing campaign to stimulate fitness in the population in the mid 1970’s, the Trimm Trab range of clothing and footwear were launched.

The range topper of the Trimm range also includes Trimm Star and Trimm Trab. For those wondering it roughly translates as ‘Workout Trot’. Sounds better in German I think…

The T-Master, I’ll let you guess what the T stands for; is a strikingly sleek design, compared to the Trimm Trab from the same range. Made in West Germany using premium suede for the uppers and lace-stay with tyre manufacturer Continental supplying the gum rubber soles, this was adidas at its manufacturing best.

The light green and yellow colourway is so of the moment, simple boxed gold lettering to identify the model and the Ghilly lacing system used is inspiring and has now been widely copied by others to this present day.

Although a top of the range training shoe of its time, that wouldn’t have been a bargain purchase, it would appear from the numbers that turn up in collector’s circles that very few examples were sold or have survived. Or we can hope there are a couple of pallets yet to be discovered in the back of a Bavarian warehouse somewhere.

Thankfully, due to the quality of the materials used in the construction, the few I have seen that have survived are in fine condition, although nowhere near as outstanding as our example beautifully pictured here. Luckily they did not suffer the fate of the cheaper Trimm Trab model, with its revolutionary Polyurethane based sole that has a tendency to go sticky, crack and then crumble to dust, even if the pair are unworn, time is not kind to them unfortunately.

Text: Mike Stopforth