Adidas and Wainshiell

First introduced around 1984, the ZX500 was a state of the art training shoe. Adidas has now reintroduced this classic model in limited numbers. The shoe has had a slight makeover with regards to its material, but the basis of the shoe has remained the same. Using a weaved / textured upper instead of its original nylon, the shoe is treasured by many. In 1984, there were a number of key technological breakthroughs that changed the world. In the year that saw the launch of the first Apple Macintosh computer, the first CD-ROM and the laser printer, the climate was distinctly scientific. The ZX series was a collection of running shoes designed for runners of all types and abilities.

The ZX concept was created by a motivation and desire from Adidas to create a collection of range shoes that would collectively cover all runners' needs: from all-terrain to road runners, from joggers to competitive long distance runners, they would all be able to find their footwear solution in the ZX collection

Each model was carefully adapted and designed, featuring subtle differences and nuances which would suit the shoe more to a specific type of runner. With a little less padding in one area, and a little more cushioning in another, a shoe could take on a new function and suitability.

Developers at adidas' Scheinfeld factory in Bavaria showed such dedication to producing a comprehensive range of running models that the range is a vast and rich collection that is now looked back on with great fondness. What initially began as the '00s (hundreds) series in '84 would extend to the '000s (thousands) collection after the 1988 Olympics. This fruitful period also brought about a number of breakthrough devices in sports and running footwear such as Torsion(tm) and Soft Cell technologies. It was inventions such as these that attracted so many fans in the first place, fans who still consider these design classics. Such was and is the popularity of the ZX collection that these models are often regarded as defining the archetypal training shoe silhouette.

Over 20 years after their inception, some of the most beloved models from the range are returning. The current ZX family pays homage to the original models while, through their treatments, bringing a distinctive new look to these much-loved shoes.