Bape and Adidas Revive and Rename an Obscure ’90s Skate Sneaker
Bape and Adidas‘ long-running partnership is set to continue with a new (old) silhouette.
The two collaborators have brought back the Norton, an obscure skate shoe from the ’90s fit for today’s Y2K resurgence, as the Adidas N Bape. It also bears a strong resemblance to the Campus 00s, a modified version of the ’70s basketball sneaker that looks to the ’00s as source material.
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Each of the panels on the N Bape’s upper is thick, including the Three Stripes motif made out of nylon straps. Concave vertical stripes wrap around the midsole, which also features Adidas’ Trefoil logo embossed into the heel to match the mark on the tongue. Additional branding arrives via Bape’s Ape logo on the lateral heel and a mismatched mustache featuring the Trefoil on the left shoe and the Bape Sta logo on the right.
For its debut, the N Bape will release in two colorways: one in brown, tan and black and the other in green and brown. Both feature a gum outsole and white midsole and branding, as well as Bape’s signature Cloud Camo on the shoes’ interior.
Each pair will also come with a leather key chain and three pairs of laces, two of which are “fat” to match the 2000s skate shoe aesthetic.
The Bape x Adidas N Bape sneaker will release April 20 through the Confirmed App, Bape’s website and physical stores and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $150.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
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