Years before fashion collaborations became a staple in almost every streetwear collection, brands spent years in research and development to ensure the product was worthy of carrying two labels. These days, most companies have reduced collaborative projects to a logo slapped on ready-made merchandise. More time and finances are put into marketing instead of thorough design that should aim to capture the ethos of both brands. In a sea of thoughtless hype, Commonwealth’s first partnership with adidas proves that thoughtful design is still what matters most.

The adidas Consortium x Commonwealth ZX 500 RM marks the store’s very first collaboration with adidas, further strengthening its partnership with the Consortium – a select group of some of the world’s most influential retailers. Drawing inspiration from Commonwealth’s locations in Virginia Beach, Los Angeles, and the Philippines, the sneaker celebrates the idea of coastal living evident in all three cities. Their position as a cross-continental retailer allows them to see the project from a unique perspective when approaching the design process.

The collaboration started organically with conversations between Commonwealth and adidas almost two years ago. Mike Concepcion, one of Commonwealth’s partners, explains that the goal of the project was to represent the stores geographically, but localize it in a manner in which each city can consider it their own. While the shoe features details inspired by all locations, you can’t help but notice the subtle bias toward the Philippines – evident in the colors used on the three-stripe embroidery which were inspired by the Tubbataha Reef found just off the coast of Palawan.

Most sneaker collaborations end the design process with color. But Commonwealth dug deeper and further executed the idea down to the choice of materials and techniques used. With water being a key inspiration in the overall design, the sneaker features a translucent mesh upper and sonic welding on the toe box to give it an illusion of fluidity and seamlessness. The sneaker is topped off with laces made with a translucent fabrication that hasn’t been used on a sneaker before. Sustainability was also an underlying theme in the design process as the team opted to go for a synthetic suede upper instead of real leather.

“Our biggest challenge was figuring out how to provide our interpretation of an already great silhouette,” Mike shares when asked about their experience working the ZX 500 RM — a futuristic update on a silhouette modeled after running sneakers from the original ZX line developed by adidas in the late 80’s. While it might have been more apt to work on an iconic silhouette such as the Stan Smith or the Superstar, the choice of model worked in their favor as construction on the ZX 500 RM allowed for more customization.

Despite the opportunity to create something novel, the team focused on creating something wearable. The sneaker being predominantly white allows for versatility in any wardrobe. “The best design is when you show restraint and pull back,” Omar Quiambao, co-founder of Commonwealth, says. “If this was our only shot, we really wanted to make it as wearable as possible. Sure, we could’ve gone really crazy and there’s a lot of novelty things out there, but that starts to limit the audience,” he continues.

But the collaboration feels far from being an only shot. The sneaker was well-received by fans and is stocked in Consortium stores all around the world. Maybe it stems from the aforementioned discipline in the creative process, or the dedication toward creating a very wearable piece. But there’s a certain humility in its understated design — as if to say that this project with adidas isn’t a destination that Commonwealth has worked to arrive at, but rather a project that marks the beginning of a journey. So when asked about what could be expected in the next few years, all Mike had to say was “We’ve been busy.”

The Commonwealth x Adidas Consortium ZX 500 RM (Php 9,300) is available in all Commonwealth stores, Commonwealth web stores, and adidas Consortium retailers worldwide starting December 15, 2018.

Photos by Marvin Conanan