Marking a momentous occasion in END.’s collaborative history, the British retailer joins forces with Gary Aspden’s seminal adidas SPZL for the first time to unveil “By the Sea.” This 11-piece collection draws inspiration from the quintessential British seaside town, celebrating the rich heritage of both the retailer and adidas SPZL in honour of their 10th anniversary.
Founded in 2014 by cultural mainstay Gary Aspden, adidas SPZL has spent the past decade honouring the Three Stripes’ storied legacy. Through its footwear and apparel, the label breathes new life into vintage adidas designs, presenting them in a contemporary light. The “By The Sea” collection, central to this celebration, delivers a refined take on SPZL’s signature style, spotlighting a trio of revitalised footwear classics.
The Moscrop 2 SPZL sneaker makes a comeback in a sandy colourway, featuring its hallmark Cordura uppers and pigskin suede overlays. This model, an amalgamation of two archival adidas sneakers, draws from the lightweight uppers of the adidas Raider and the rugged sole unit of the Argentinian-made adidas Infinity, complete with the iconic Dellinger Web Sole. Another fan favourite, the Wilsy SPZL, returns in a Chalk White and Tribe Green palette, combining nubuck uppers with tonal mesh panels for a vintage yet contemporary sportswear look. Completing the trio, the Samba Deco SPZL receives an understated update, showcasing rich navy-blue pigskin suede and Seaweed Green leather Three Stripes, adding a modern twist to the legendary sneaker’s design.
Complementing the footwear, the “By The Sea” apparel selection highlights adidas’ enduring influence. The collection features seven pieces from the SPZL archives, unified by the collection’s signature colour palette. The Calavadella Jacket, named after an idyllic Ibiza cove, is crafted in vibrant Tribe Green recycled polyester. This piece pays homage to adidas SPZL’s DNA and the music culture of Ibiza, featuring a removable hood, four bellow pockets, a drawstring waist, and SPZL’s recognisable woven patches. The Track Top and Track Pant in Cardboard brown further embed retro sporting sensibilities, each detailed with tonal Three Stripes and woven patches, with the Track Top also boasting an embroidered logo on the chest.
The collection includes two jersey t-shirts, honouring SPZL’s history with END. branding on the reverse, echoing the classic SPZL Wireframe Logo tee. The Meanwood Polo Shirt seamlessly blends vintage sportswear with modern style, embellished with tonal Three Stripes and a woven brand patch. Rounding off the collection, two headwear pieces—the Tribe Green Bucket Hat and Cardboard brown Cap—infuse ’90s nostalgia into the collaboration.
Gary Aspden commented, “With any collaborations we do with adidas SPZL, there needs to be a good reason for them to exist. They are often underpinned by strong existing relationships, and this collaboration with END. most definitely has that. Given the level of support that END. has shown to the SPZL range since the very beginning, it felt right to acknowledge that with a product pack as part of the SPZL tenth-anniversary celebrations. END. brought their ‘By the Sea’ story to us, and we worked collaboratively on a selection of archival SPZL silhouettes from the past decade, with discussions at every stage of the design process.”
In a recent interview with SoccerBible, Gary Aspden shared his insights on various aspects of SPZL and football culture:
“Seeing people wearing (adidas SPZL) in my day-to-day life – especially at the football. I love the fact that SPZL has never been about hype and resellers. The experiential value of people engaging with the products has always been key and seeing people wearing it well is the highest compliment.”
“I actually prefer Championship football to the Premier League – not for the quality of the football played but for the fact it’s a bit less ‘shiny’ if you know what I mean.”
“Football fashion has changed. I believe the idea of being ‘in the know’ has become less of a consideration with the rise of the internet. There will always be those who are into the one-upmanship of seeking out new brands and there will always be regional differences in the styling of football fans.”
“There is no definitive answer to what football culture is. From the uniformity of mobs of Ultras dressed in all black to those who still seek out vintage 80s pieces to the new generation of young heads who continue to embrace that look – it’s pretty multi-faceted.”
“Adidas has always had its place in football culture and I believe that the brand understands football in a way that its rivals don’t, and I guess what we have done with SPZL is simply a modern extension of that adidas legacy. SPZL looks to Europe for its inspiration rather than the US which is a major factor in its identity.”
The END. x adidas SPZL “By The Sea” collection will be available at END. Newcastle starting August 2nd and will launch online and at END. stores in London, Manchester, Milan, and Glasgow on August 9th, 2024.
Adidas SPZL, a classic example of football terrace fashion, continues to celebrate its heritage and influence, now marking this milestone with a collection that bridges past and present, honouring the brand’s legacy and the enduring partnership with END.
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