There are some pairings we simply couldn’t imagine no longer working together. One of which is Cottweiler and Reebok. The brands are practically yin and yang; the Beyoncé and Jay-Z of the menswear world. They’ve been teaming up ever since 2017 when the Cottweiler boys were the guest designers at Pitti Uomo in Florence. “It was a big moment for the brand and really opened us up to an international audience,” explains Matthew Dainty, co-founder and creative director of the label alongside Ben Cottrell. “The relationship has allowed us to innovate in ways we would never have been able to and Reebok are always very open to our creative vision.”
When the two parties come together, it isn’t some throwaway collaboration you forget about within a glance. Past releases have even ended up in exhibitions. If you’re a lucky online shopper and happen to stumble upon a Trail Boot or a Desert Carrier, you better make sure you’re typing in your card details STAT as the trainers will most likely be snatched up in mere days, if not hours. The same goes for last season’s release, the DMX Trail Shadow: a chunky number with a sturdy sole and covered in various green accents – inspired by Epping forest; a popular cruising spot in Essex next to where Dainty grew up. So what inspired the hues of their latest team-up? “The colour palette comes from the digitally rendered environments that were created as backdrops to our SS20 digital runway,” says Dainty. Many moons before we were all in lockdown, away from the outside world, the Cottweiler boys collaborated with Boiler Room to create the ideal virtual getaway; a URL desert where each of its inhabitants sported light and technical Cottweiler staples.
It was here where the brand first teased their latest collection for Reebok, which you can now finally get your hands on IRL. SS20 sees the brand re-imagine Reebok’s Zig Kinetica trainer to create the Zig 3D Storm, available in red, blue and black colourways. “Reebok asked us to develop the new Zig after we had initially worked on a re-release of the original style from 2010 for our SS19 collection,” Dainty explains. “We were both huge fans of the original Zig so it was really exciting to incorporate the new technology and to modernise the silhouette.” The Zig 3D Storm’s sleek structure mimics the reflection the sun leaves on the sand, equipped with a slanted sole shape that uses kinetic energy. The Zig Energy Bands on the outsole expand and contrast as you move, and when paired with the model’s lightweight foam cushioning, enables a spring in your step. It’s basically sneaker science.
Keeping in line with the red and blue that drenches the Zig 3D Storm, the Cottweiler boys were granted access to the Reebok archive for an accompanying apparel line. “The silhouettes are taken from the Reebok archive, reworked into adaptable fitting pieces made from natural fabrics using minimal hardware,” Dainty continues. Half zip-up shirts, shorts and parka jackets come in a cracking mix of silk and linen, whilst wide-leg track pants can be adjusted to become tapered at the cuff or cropped via press stud closures. “We wanted to take something that had once been created in synthetics and soften the whole approach to sportswear,” says Dainty. As clever as it is crafty, Cottweiler are always two steps ahead when it comes to advancing sportswear codes. We advise you to wear this collection somewhere hot after lockdown is lifted. Maybe go to Egypt, or even treat yourself to a mad one in Ibiza. Where would Dainty head to, you ask? “I feel pretty content wearing the shorts at home on the sofa right now.” Fair play.
Images courtesy of Cottweiler. The full Cottweiler for Reebok SS20 collection, with and the exclusive Zig 3D Storm black colourway, is available now at Cottweiler’s online store. 20% of all online sales going to the RCN Foundation, supporting nurses and support workers during the COVID-19 crisis.
