Apart from your sporting giants and heritage brands (that’s Nike, Adidas, Vans and Converse for you), contemporary sneaker releases that are able to harness a trend-defying cult following are few and far between. We saw the phenomenon with Common Projects; commanding an army of loyal collectors with its achingly minimalistic designs and under-the-radar branding by way of a serial number stamped on the side of each shoe. Ryo Kashiwazaki’s Hender Scheme has the same cult-amassing effect — largely due to the brand’s Homage range.
The line, as its name suggests, is dedicated to handcrafted reproductions of iconic sneaker models by the likes of Nike and Adidas, albeit in sumptuous, vegetable-tanned leathers that develop a patina over time and wear. These unlikely bedfellows (read: luxe, classic material meets sporty, runner silhouette) have proven potent enough for Hender Scheme sneakers to attain cult status, and become somewhat of a stylophile’s badge of honour. After the Japanese brand‘s first tie-up with adidas Originals in 2017 (see the Superstar sneaker above), a Fall/Winter ’18 release follows — tapping on the latter’s ZX series that hit the ground running back in the ’80s.
And unlike the usual full leather homages — down to the soles — that Hender Scheme has come to be known for, the two styles incorporate key Adidas elements beyond aesthetics. The brand’s Boost sole (the same ones that are on your NMDs) cameos in both, while a sporty mesh is spliced with tan leather on one. Both models bear the Hender Scheme logo on the shoe tongue, and adidas Originals’ on the heel tab.
Browse adidas Originals by Hender Scheme F/W ’18:
Available at Club21 Four Seasons from 24 November.
