When the sun’s out, and the football is on, adidas suddenly feels more relevant than ever. Next time you’re walking to and from the beer garden (which will inevitably be in the next 24 hours), take a look downward. You’re sure to see a mass of three-striped footwear – Sambas, Tobaccos, Gazelles, even lesser-seen stuff like Bermudas and Tahitis are bound to be present.
Observing adidas trainers at this time of year is a bit like bird spotting, and the one type of footwear that everyone wants to see – the Andean Condor – is anything from the adidas SPZL range.
Spearheaded by long-time adidas enthusiast, collector, and aficionado, Gary Aspden, adidas SPZL brings together everything we love about adidas. Great colourways, fantastic materials, and the air of nostalgia that only Gary knows how to pull together and bottle. We love pretty much everything that Spezial puts out, and their latest collaboration with END. is no different.
For their second collaboration together, END. and adidas SPZL have turned their attention to Manchester – a city whose relationship with adidas is about as strong as you’ll find anywhere in the world.
The Manchester influence runs through every part of the campaign. Fronting it are Black Grape founders Shaun Ryder and Kermit, photographed by legendary New York photographer Jamil GS against the city’s ever-changing skyline. Manchester might look different from one week to the next, with glass towers perpetually replacing old mills, but the culture, just like the adidas silhouettes that have long inhabited it, remains largely the same.
Leading the footwear line-up is the New York II Outdoor SPZL, a rugged reinterpretation of the classic running silhouette, finished in dark grey with rich teal accents. Then there’s the Munchen II SPZL, arguably the most terrace adjacent silhouette, which arrives in beautifully soft green pigskin suede. Completing the trio is the Lytham SPZL, a laid-back boat shoe-inspired silhouette in tan suede that looks tailor-made for long summer evenings.
Away from the footwear, the apparel continues the understated SPZL formula. The standout piece is undoubtedly the return of the ST-11 Jacket, which has been joined by the Angelzarke Track Top, Brockhall Tee and Elenshaw Cap to round out the capsule.
All in all, it’s a collaboration that couldn’t have landed at a better time. The sunshine might disappear, England’s tournament could end sooner than we’d like, but the beauty of this release is that it’ll still look good long after the football has finished and the sunshine has faded.
The adidas SPZL x END. collection launches online and in END. stores on Friday 17th July 2026.
