As a sneaker blog-turned-agency, Hartcopy is one of the must-follow Instagram accounts for people looking to keep posted on the latest developments in footwear.
The publisher — which boasts over 245k followers on Instagram and releases an annual book covering the year in sneakers — is still focused on documenting the best releases in the sneaker scene even as it helps create them, sometimes at the bequest of clients and sometimes itself, like with this Hartcopy x adidas sneaker collab.
Shared online by staff, Hartcopy's collaborative adidas shoe is as simple as the concept of Hartcopy itself: descriptions of shoes = an understated all-white sneaker.
Taking on the BW Army shoe, a ‘70s sneaker worn by the military as durable indoor training shoes, Hartcopy's adidas collab stays true to the sneaker’s original look.
A classic sneaker shape that has been imitated many times, most famously by Martin Margiela to create the Maison’s Replica sneaker, Hartcopy’s adidas BW Army shoe features a white leather upper and gum sole that are reminiscent of the shoe’s original colorway.
A few custom details can be seen at first glance at the adidas collab, however, which includes Hartcopy’s logo, a red squiggle, that has been added to the shoe's upper in two places and custom branding on the insole.
Also, the sneaker's signature T-shaped overlay on the toebox has a tonal white finish as opposed to the grey suede found on the original '70s model.
No official information has been given yet as to when we can see a release of this shoe, however, the first-looks posted to Instagram came with teasers that drop info is to follow soon — along with claims that it's the “best everyday shoe ever,” an unspoken challenge of adidas' Samba, one of today's hottest (and simplest) sneakers.
And perhaps adidas collaborator has a point. As Hartcopy staffers, they are of course biased, but the simplicity of this shoe gives it the type of versatility that you need from an everyday footwear option, akin to some of the other popular Samba alternatives.
This minimal sneaker follows up on Hartcopy's previous work with Clarks.
Creating a series of collaborative Wallabee shoes for friends and family as well as a super-limited Wallabee Boot together with Footpatrol, the announcement of this collaboration sees Hartcopy take another step into the world of creating physical products.
Both its Wallabee releases and this latest one with adidas give an insight into what we can expect from Hartcopy in its sneaker collaborations (of which I'm confident there will be more in the future).
In both cases, it has taken on a classic shoe, steeped in history, and provided it with subtle upgrades and small, considered hits of branding.
Hartcopy's curation of sneakers on its page has proven that it has a modicum of taste and now its sneaker releases are further proving it.
