In celebration of its 20th anniversary, British retailer END. has once again joined forces with adidas to resurrect and reinterpret one of the Three Stripes’ most understated archival icons — the adidas Tokyo. This latest collab doesn’t just revive a silhouette; it revives an era, paying homage to the minimalist lineage of adidas’ low-profile shoes while threading in END.’s distinct sense of Northern refinement. The result is a masterclass in balance: old-school charm dressed in contemporary craftsmanship, streamlined and simple yet undeniably loaded with meaning.

the story

Two decades deep into redefining global retail, END. has evolved from a Newcastle-based boutique into one of the world’s leading destinations for streetwear, shoes, and modern menswear. For its 20th anniversary, the brand’s collaborations have become less about hype and more about heritage — honoring the spaces, sounds, and subcultures that shaped its identity. The END. x adidas Tokyo sits perfectly within this narrative: a design that speaks to the brand’s origins while reaffirming its position in contemporary sneaker culture.

END.’s ongoing relationship with adidas has yielded several modern classics — from the ZX 9000 “Tea Room” to the understated Haven and subtly opulent Bodega collaborations. Yet, the Tokyo feels especially symbolic. It reaches back to a 1960s silhouette inspired by Japan’s capital — a sneaker built around speed, efficiency, and simplicity. In 2025, this rebirth becomes a love letter to minimalism, craftsmanship, and the enduring cultural influence of adidas Originals.

evolve

At first glance, the END. x adidas Tokyo stands out for its quiet confidence. It doesn’t shout innovation; it whispers refinement. The design draws from the Tokyo OG, a model that debuted during the golden age of adidas’ international city series. True to the ethos of the original, the silhouette remains sleek, slim, and almost featherlight. The key visual update is its monochromatic black-and-white palette — a subtle nod to Newcastle’s industrial aesthetic and END.’s minimalist DNA.

The upper is constructed from premium leather, smooth and supple with subtle matte texture variations that catch the light at different angles. White serrated Three Stripes run across the sidewalls, offering contrast against the inky base. The tongue and heel tab feature co-branded logos — END.’s wordmark etched in silver foil beside adidas’ Trefoil — subtle enough to reward close inspection.

Below, the thin rubber outsole delivers a tactile throwback to 1970s training shoes, grounding the sneaker in authenticity while amplifying its modern appeal. It’s the kind of sole you expect on a Gazelle or a Samba, but here it feels even more refined — slimmer, lighter, and closer to the ground.

construction

As with most END. collabs, the Tokyo emphasizes quality over excess. The craftsmanship is precise, each stitch deliberate. The leather upper is lined with soft textile for comfort, while the tongue padding offers just enough cushion without disrupting the shoe’s silhouette. The outsole — a near-identical reproduction of the original Tokyo tooling — provides a subtle grip texture that merges functionality with visual simplicity.

Inside, the insoles bear dual branding: the adidas Trefoil on one footbed and END.’s 20th Anniversary insignia on the other. It’s a discreet but meaningful detail, marking the collaboration as part of a celebratory lineage. Even the box design mirrors this concept — matte black with embossed silver text — turning packaging into part of the storytelling.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by END. (@endclothing)

context

The return of the Tokyo arrives at a time when low-profile shoes dominate fashion discourse once again. The post-chunky-shoe era has shifted attention toward timeless shapes like the Samba, Gazelle, Spezial, and Handball — silhouettes rooted in simplicity, easy to style, and effortlessly nostalgic. The END. x adidas Tokyo steps neatly into that lineage, aligning with a broader movement toward restraint and authenticity.

But while the Samba and Gazelle speak to terrace culture and global sportswear heritage, the Tokyo brings something subtler — a sense of cosmopolitan poise. It carries the refinement of mid-century design while fitting seamlessly into modern wardrobes defined by tailored streetwear and minimal luxury. For END., it’s a way to merge British sensibility with global heritage — a cross-cultural dialogue expressed through clean lines and craftsmanship.

flow

END.’s decision to echo Newcastle’s black-and-white identity is more than a color choice; it’s a cultural homage. The monochrome palette references both the city’s footballing passion and its industrial heritage — a reminder that global creativity can emerge from local soil. By channeling this spirit into a Japanese-rooted silhouette, END. and adidas build a bridge between Newcastle and Tokyo, two cities defined by their ability to modernize without losing their soul.

That connection feels especially potent in an age of global collab, where authenticity is the new haute. The Tokyo embodies this ethos perfectly: understated, context-aware, and deeply rooted in shared craftsmanship.

wear

On foot, the END. x adidas Tokyo feels timeless. Its low stance and neutral color scheme make it adaptable across contexts — paired with denim and a Harrington jacket for a mod-inspired fit, or with cropped trousers and a technical shell for a minimalist streetwear edge. The slim sole gives it a dressier look than a typical terrace shoe, while the leather finish elevates it into lifestyle territory.

Whether  worn casually or as a statement piece, the Tokyo achieves what few anniversary collaborations do: it feels equally nostalgic and new. It’s a shoe that doesn’t need hype to feel special — the quality and cultural weight speak for themselves.

impression

The END. x adidas Tokyo is a thoughtful celebration of two milestones — adidas’ enduring influence and END.’s two decades of design-driven retail. It honors the past without imitating it, capturing a distinctly modern energy that remains true to both brands’ roots.

This is a shoe that resists the noise of trends and focuses instead on longevity — a trait shared by the best designs in adidas’ archive. It’s minimal yet meaningful, familiar yet forward-thinking, and like END. itself, it’s grounded in culture, community, and craftsmanship.

As END. raises a glass — or in this case, a sneaker — to twenty years of innovation and influence, the Tokyo stands as both a tribute and a promise: that great design, like great storytelling, never goes out of style.

No comments yet.