Today, adidas is launching the 2020 A-ZX Series, a sneaker program celebrating the past and future of its iconic ZX franchise. Running through 2020 and 2021, the series will see adidas release 26 new takes of the ZX 'thousands' series – one for each letter of the alphabet – designed either in collaboration with a creative partner or as a one-off concept inspired by the Three Stripes' archive. Each collaboration partner will only be announced shortly before the drop (make sure to keep an on dedicated A-ZX hub for the latest) but expect team-ups with big names from a wide range of industries including retail, food, toys, and sport.

The ZX franchise was first released in 1984 as a collection of running shoes that could cater to the needs of runners of all abilities. Introducing some of adidas’ most advanced technologies, such as Torsion, the ZX raised the bar for running shoes at the time, capturing the attention of runners and non-runners alike. In the following years, it was taken further out of the running realm thanks to the subcultural sets in Manchester and Berlin, cementing its status not only as a seminal running shoe but equally as a cultural icon. In honor of the franchise, over the course of 2008-2009 adidas launched the A-ZX program for the first time, collaborating with a number of esteemed retailers including Collette, Bodega, and Foot Patrol.

The 2020 A-ZX program follows in this vein, marking the beginning of a new retro-running chapter for the Three Stripes. For the first drop, adidas is paying tribute to the extensive ZX archive with the ZX Retro, a rerelease of the late '80s ZX 1000C sneaker.

Stay tuned to our A-ZX hub for all the latest news on the drops. All releases will be available on adidas.de, in adidas stores, and at a number of retailers including OVERKILL, BSTN, 43einhalb, Asphaltgold, and Solebox.