Adidas Originals x Scotts - Born in Bavaria

I'm weary of posts beginning with this phrase: "I don't usually...". This is because the following spiel tends to revolve around the fact that the writer has been conveniently converted to the ways of the brand, or the style, that they have been gifted or sponsored by. There is often a slight fear of honesty in these situations, and it's understandable... don't bite the hand that feeds you. But this puts me in a tricky spot, because I really want to start this blog post with "I don't usually...", but I also don't have a bad word to say about these shoes to make it seem genuine.

I took a risk on these adidas NMD R1 Primeknits that were sent to me for Scott's Born in Bavaria campaign. Sporty silhouettes have never been my first choice in trainers, usually opting for a more sneaker-based aesthetic, but something about them called out to me. Maybe it was my inner desire to be cool? Maybe it was the temptation of wearing shoes that make me feel like I'm walking on marshmallows? Maybe both? Whichever way, I regret nothing. Since owning this pair of adidas NMDs, I now own two others; if that's not a genuine conversion, what is?

ASOS Jacket | COS Overshirt | M&S T-Shirt | Jack Wills Trousers | adidas Originals Trainers

There are only a select few brands that I have always been loyal to, and these are ones that I will always trust the quality of; adidas is one of them without question. Even in the days when I would have never considered wearing trainers casually, I loved wearing adidas for sport, then a pair of adidas Originals became the first pair of trainers that I wore on a daily basis. It now feels like a natural progression that the first sporty pair I own is also from the brand with the three stripes.

But who would I be if I didn't put my own spin on this silhouette? It's easy to pair these with an all black outfit, and yes, it works well, but that's really not me. Instead, I opted for a current personal favourite: grey. It works with everything, which meant I could throw in a splash of colour from my new favourite COS overshirt, and feel like the whole outfit subtly complimented the bright white shoes, without making them seem overly flashy.

Now, take a look at that sole. Yes, it kind of looks like a million of those polystyrene beads from a split bean bag have been glued together, but you can see the sole curve around the metal as I put pressure on... These are some ridiculously comfy shoes. The upper is knitted and barely feels as if it's there, and the sole is the shoe version of a damn cloud. I would wear these all the time if I weren't so scared of getting them dirty (which happened the moment I wore them on the tube after this shoot...).

To take it down to basics: If you want your feet to live in luxury and comfort, buy these shoes. If you don't work on a building site during every second of every day, buy these shoes (seriously, they offer no protection). If you like the style, the idea of comfort, but don't like bright white shoes... well they have many other colours, so buy these shoes. There is a selection of NMD (and other adidas Originals) available over at Scotts Menswear.

The adidas Originals: Born in Bavaria campaign from Scotts is a celebration of the adidas heritage, one that stems from Herzogenaurach, a town in Bavaria, Germany. Part One, Part Two, and Part Three of the campaign all explore different styles: the Bermuda, the EQT, and the new Swift, but overall, it's a deeper look into the success and history of one of the world's most recognisable and iconic brands. If you like your trainers, it's definitely worth a watch (or three).

Rob.

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 (Photos taken by David Joseph)

*Scotts Menswear kindly sent me the adidas Originals NMD R1 in white. This, as always, hasn't changed my opinions in any way.