This NYFW Collaboration Has Everything: Kendall Jenner, Adidas Tracksuits, and Serious Instagram Appeal
Daniëlle Cathari x Adidas Originals Fall 2018
Everything about Daniëlle Cathari’s work is right for right now. Her de- and re-constructed Adidas tracksuits have a graphic component, an element of DIY craftiness, an underlying tone of luxe athleisure, and the Kendall Jenner seal of approval. If Cathari wasn’t 23 years old, you might think she had struck a deal with the social media gods, because her label so effortlessly epitomizes Gen Z culture, it seems truly blessed.
But that kind of serendipity is just life for the Dutch designer. While still a student at Amsterdam Fashion Institute, she was chosen to participate in VFiles’s Fall 2017 show. There, she sent out eight looks made of reconstituted Adidas tracksuits. The collaged-together pieces are equal parts crazy, sexy, and cool. After the collection walked the runway, Adidas did something very rare: Instead of calling the lawyers, they called Cathari and asked to collaborate. “It’s actually a funny story because my first contact with the brand was through Instagram after I won the VFiles,” the designer tells Vogue. “They reached out to me by DM and invited me to their headquarters in Germany, and from there, it just kind of all came together.”
On February 8, Cathari will debut her collaboration with Adidas Originals, the fashion-skewing arm of the global company, at New York Fashion Week. As if that wasn’t the cherry on top of an already sweet deal, Adidas Originals introduced Cathari to one of its brand ambassadors, Kendall Jenner.
“When we were first introduced by Adidas Originals, we totally hit it off,” Jenner tells Vogue. “Our creative styles really mirror each other. The different contrasts, colors, and vintage take totally reflect my personal style. . . . I was so inspired by her work and how she adapted such iconic pieces, making them feel totally new but still familiar.”
Jenner and Cathari’s relationship has developed into a true muse-artist partnership, with the model being an instrumental part of the development of the new collection. “Kendall is someone who isn’t afraid to express her individuality, and I really respect that. I see so much of my style in the way she mixes it up, and I love her sense of contrast,” says the designer. “We have similar creative visions and how we approach personal style. It never felt like work but more like just hanging out with a friend and talking about all the stuff we love, which in this case is fashion!”
Before the collection bows at NYFW, Cathari shared a few images from her hangouts with Jenner as she prepared her collection. Stay tuned for the presentation, which also promises street-cast models and an Instagram-ready set.
