Adidas has been shining more of a spotlight on its popular Originals range of late. It introduced a new campaign for the subbrand centered around originality. Before that, it created A-Type, an elevated assortment of some of the brand’s most popular pieces.
Now it has turned its attention to its golf collection and is reintroducing Originals Golf. The launch comes in advance of The Masters, the unofficial kickoff to the golf season, which will be played in Augusta, Ga., this year from April 10 to 13.
The collection will feature the brand’s Trefoil logo and include an assortment of apparel, footwear and accessories for men and women. Key pieces for men include a polo in a cotton-polyester sweater knit fabric with flat-knit rib detailing along the hem and cuff in a tonal argyle pattern that’s jacquarded into the fabric. There will also be a solid polo with a three-button placket and contrast color tipping on the collar; an Originals Archive Pocket Polo in mercerized cotton; a pleated pant with sewn-on 3-Stripes detail, and the Originals Archive Plaid Pant that features a center fold press.
The men’s collection features pieces that blend style and performance.
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Layering pieces will include the Originals Argyle Quarter-Zip made with modal materials and a Trefoil zipper pull, and an Originals Full-Zip jacket that includes a packable hood and elastic cuffs. A blended cotton-cashmere knit sweater and 3-Stripes Quarter-Zip round are also offered.
For women, there is a Printed Trefoil polo with a three-button placket and raglan sleeves; a solid polo with contrast tipping on the collar and cuff; Originals Pleated Skort with contrast color tipping across the waist, side pockets and a concealed zipper with hook and eye closure; Originals Cashmere Knit sweater with 3-Stripes detailing in the crew neck and a self-rib hem and cuff, and a sleeveless Originals dress that features a ribbed V-neck with 3-Stripes elastic band that matches the pop-color pleat, and two side-zip pockets.
A women’s look from Originals Golf.
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“Our iconic Originals range has always been defined by classic styles that have transcended time,” said Shaun Madigan, global apparel director of Adidas Golf. “We used our heritage as our muse and created Originals Golf with that same mindset, with the ultimate goal of building out a premium assortment of apparel that represents the convergence of fashion and culture that we are seeing in the game.”
In footwear, Originals Golf will offer updates to the Stan Smith and Samba Golf shoes as well as new Gazelle Golf and Coursecup models, the latter of which was inspired by the Gold Cup model introduced in 1986. The Coursecup comes in unisex sizing and features a leather upper with wingtip detailing. The shoe models also feature a Gripmore spikeless outsole and a removable kiltie.
The Gazelle Golf is also being brought to the course for the first time. It will be offered in men’s and women’s silhouettes and will feature enhanced cushioning, a spikeless outsole and a waterproof suede upper.
“Over the past few years, we have worked hard to bring the classic Adidas silhouettes to the course in a way that will offer golfers both function and style,” said Masun Denison, global footwear director of Adidas Golf. “With the addition of Coursecup and now a Gazelle designed for the golf course, golfers will continue to be able to express themselves through clean and versatile designs.”
To round out the assortment, Originals Golf will include hats, socks, belts, head covers, a golf towel, carry golf bags and a premium Originals Golf Boston bag.
Ludvig Aberg, an Adidas ambassador, is expected to wear the collection at the Masters.
“The Adidas Trefoil logo was first introduced in 1972 and represents the convergence of fashion and culture through sport,” said Dylan Moore, senior creative director of Adidas Golf. “As we examined our roots in the game, we were inspired by the ways we pushed fashion on the course in the ‘70s and ‘80s and felt the time was right to reintroduce styles for golfers that are influenced by the fashion and culture of today.”
He said this marks the return of the Trefoil to golf. “But for us, it’s more about the culture born from sport versus performance. We have our other logo, the performance logo, which is all about making athletes perform better.”
Although the pieces are intended to be more lifestyle-focused, Moore said they are “golf-able” for those who are partial to wearing them on the course — including Aberg. “We try to tone down the performance so they look and feel like a lifestyle piece,” he said, “but there’s a touch more performance than other Originals product. We had to push that from our side to make sure it’s a nice balance that hits both.”
He stressed that while performance product will continue to represent the bulk of the business, this collection is intended to appeal to the more diverse customer who has taken up the sport in the past few years. “Golf has always had its own culture with country clubs and the 19th hole, but in the last five years we’ve seen all the new golfers come to the game, invigorate it and push the boundaries of what’s acceptable. People are bringing their own style to the game, so we felt this was a really good time.”
“We’ve been making golf product for over 40 years,” said Jeff Lienhart, president of Adidas Golf. “But fashion and culture are having more of an impact these days and we’re bringing Originals into the culture.”
He acknowledged that Originals represents “an important part of the overall business” for Adidas and the company is “doing a good job defining what it should be. We’re a sport brand and culture is born from that.”
He said since Originals Golf is being viewed as a lifestyle play rather than a performance collection, “it will be sold in some places where performance is not.”
Looking ahead, Lienhart said there are no plans to significantly expand the Originals Golf offering. “Expansion is not our ambition,” he said. “We want to keep it scarce. We’re very proud of the Originals range and we’re being very diligent in policing it and how it hits the market.”
The collection will launch on April 3 on the Adidas app, its website and at select retailers.
Adidas Originals was created in 2001 to reimagine key pieces within the company’s archives. The collection, which has become popular in street culture, uses the Trefoil logo that was introduced in 1972. Over the years, Adidas Originals has partnered with Run-D.M.C., Y-3, Kith, Pharrell Williams’ Humanrace, Sporty & Rich and others.
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