Wie schon im letzten Jahr haben sich die Drei Streifen aus Herzogenaurach und die 2003 von Yonkers, New York, nach Teaneck, New Jersey umgezogene Sneaker Boutique Packer Shoes zusammen getan, um die Sneakerwelt mit gemeinsamen Kreationen zu beglücken. Wie schon im vergangenen Jahr 2018, als mit dem adidas Consortium EQT `91 und dem adidas Consortium EQT 91/18 zwei Modelle ausgewählt wurden, die im Running-Schuh Segment anzusiedeln sind, hat man auch in 2019 zwei Silhouetten ausgesucht, die ihre
DNA im Running-Bereich haben. Zum 30jährigen Torsion Jubiläum wollte man es sich natürlich nicht entgehen lassen, einen adidas ZX 9000 zu bearbeiten. Daneben wagte man sich an die relativ neue Silhouette des adidas ZX Torsion. Letztgenannter ist auch der Schuh, der ab kommenden Samstag als Consortium Release bei uns im Overkillshop ab Mitternacht zu haben sein wird.
Um das Storytelling des ZX Torsion zu verstehen, muss man sich zuerst mit der Story hinter dem ZX 9000 beschäftigen, da diese so etwas wie die Vorgeschichte zum ZX Torsion darstellt. Der Packer x adidas ZX
9000 hört auf den Spitznamen “Meadow Violet” und ist nach der gleichnamigen offiziellen “State Flower” des Staates New Jersey benannt. Wie bei einem Pfingstveilchen, so der deutsche Name dieser Blume, erwuchs auch Packer Shoes aus einem kleinen, im Jahre 2003 in New Jersey gepflanzten Samen, zu voller Pracht. Doch anders als der Sneaker Store in Teaneck, der im letzten Jahr einer enormen räumlichen Vergrößerung entgegen sah, floriert die wunderschöne “Meadow Violet” Blume nicht mehr so richtig. Vielmehr ist sie durch die zerstörerische Kraft des Menschen bedroht, der unachtsam, ja sogar schlecht mit der Umwelt umgeht. Die Auswirkungen, welche die Umweltzerstörung auf das Pfingstveilchen hat, sind am Packer x adidas Consortium ZX Torsion “Mega Violet” zu sehen – so sagt es die Geschichte des Schuhs. War der ZX 9000 noch in hellen, freundlichen Farben gestaltet, mit einem Zentrum aus lilafarbenen Drei Streifen die einen Farbverlauf von Hell- nach Dunkellila aufweisen, so zeigt der ZX Torsion das genaue Gegenteil. Die beschriebenen Drei Streifen als Zentrum des Schuhs bleiben unverändert, doch die Farbpalette drum herum hat sich in etwas schmutziges, fast bedrohliches verändert. Die natürliche, pure Schönheit der “Meadow Violet” mutierte zur verdorbenen, aggressiven “Mega Violet”. Im originalen PR-Text von Packer liest sich das folgendermaßen: “The Packer x adidas Consortium ZX Torsion “Mega Violet” tells the story of the Meadow Violet’s transformation from a proud symbol of nature’s beauty to a corrupted byproduct of its environment.” Wir können Mike Packer und seinem Team zu diesem Schuh und dieser Story nur gratulieren. Endlich traut sich ein Store gemeinsam mit einer Brand ein politischen Thema anzugehen. Auch wenn es sich dabei um ein Thema handelt, über das im Großen und Ganzen ein gewisser Konsens in unserer Gesellschaft herrscht, so ist es doch wichtig dass gerade die Fashion-, Streetwear- und Sneakerbranche hier und da Stellung bezieht. Das macht sie viel zu wenig.
Zum Schuh, zur Story und wie politisch diese Geschichte tatsächlich zu verstehen ist, haben wir uns mit “the man himself”, Mike Packer kurzgeschlossen, der uns netterweise wieder einmal zur Verfügung stand und uns unten ein paar Fragen dazu beantwortet hat.
Der “Mega Violet” ZX Torsion ist ein Meisterstück der Materialien. Das Upper ist eine Kombination aus bestem Schweinsleder am hinteren Overlay und “Hairy Suede” am vorderen. Die Base ist vorne aus Mesh und zeigt ein sattes Lila, im hinteren Bereich des Schuhs ist die Base aus schwarzem Nubuk. Passend dazu sehen wir eine schwarze Midsole, über die sich ein durchsichtiges Outsole-Panel hochzieht. Das modifizierte Heel Tab scheint grün, wohingegen die Zungen im üblichen Consortium-Stil co-branded sind.
Wir sind froh darüber, dass wir euch einen der beiden Schuhe aus der großartigen Packer x adidas Consortium ZX Capsule im Overkillshop präsentieren können. In der Nacht von Freitag den 18. Oktober auf Samstag den 19. Oktober 2019 um 0:00 Uhr könnt ihr den Packer x adidas Consortium ZX Torsion “Mega Violet” in unserem Onlinestore käuflich erwerben. Ab 11:00 Uhr steht der Remaining Stock auch instore in unserem Ladengeschäft in der Köpenicker Straße 195A zur Verfügung.
Um die Aussagen des nun folgenden Interviews mit Mike Packer nicht zu verfälschen, haben wir es im englischen Original belassen.
Like last year, the Three Stripes from Herzogenaurach and sneaker Boutique Packer Shoes, which moved from Yonkers, New York to Teaneck, New Jersey in 2003, have joined forces to make the sneaker world happy with joint creations. As in 2018, when two silhouettes from the Running Shoe segment were selected – the adidas Consortium EQT ’91 and adidas Consortium EQT 91/ – in 2019 two other silhouettes with Running Shoe DNA have been chosen. Of course, for the 30th anniversary of Torsion, Packer Shoes didn’t want to miss out on reworking the adidas ZX 9000. Besides that, the relatively new silhouette of the adidas ZX Torsion was picked to get a Packer make over. The latter is also the shoe, which will be available as a Consortium release in our Overkillshop on Saturday, 19th October 2019.
To understand the storytelling of the ZX Torsion, you first have to see the story behind the ZX 9000, as this is the prehistory to the ZX Torsion. The Packer x adidas ZX 9000 is nicknamed “Meadow Violet” and is named after the official state flower of New Jersey. As with a “Pfingstveilchen”, which is the German name of this flower, Packer Shoes grew out of a small seed planted in New Jersey in 2003, to its full glory today. But unlike the sneaker store in Teaneck, which faced spatial expansion last year, the beautiful “Meadow Violet” flower does not really flourish any more. Rather, it is threatened by the destructive power of man, who careless, even badly deals with the environment. The effects of environmental destruction on the “Pfingstveilchen” are shown in the Packer x adidas Consortium ZX Torsion “Mega Violet” – that’s what the story of the shoe tells. While the ZX 9000 was designed in bright, friendly colors, with a center of gradient purple Three Stripes, the ZX Torsion shows the exact opposite. The described Three Stripes as the center of the shoe remain unchanged, but the color palette around it has changed into something dirty, almost threatening. The natural, pure beauty of the “Meadow Violet” mutated into the corrupt, aggressive “Mega Violet”. Packer’s original PR text reads says: “The Packer x adidas Consortium ZX Torsion Mega Violet tells the Story of the Meadow Violet’s transformation from a proud symbol of nature’s beauty to a corrupted byproduct of its environment.” What a great story Mike Packer and his team have framed here. Finally, a store dares to tackle a political issue together with a brand. Even though this is a topic that has a general consensus in our society, it is important that the fashion, streetwear and sneaker industry takes a stand here and there.
Further down, we have met online with the man himself, Mike Packer, to talk about the shoe, the story and how politically this story really is to be understood. Don’t forget to check that out.
The “Mega Violet” ZX Torsion is a masterpiece of materials. The upper is a combination of premium pigskin on the back overlay and hairy suede on the front. The base is made of mesh at the front which is held in rich purple. The rear area of the base is of black nubuck. We also see a matching black midsole with a transparent outsole panel pulling up. The modified heel tab is greenish, whereas the tongues are co-branded in the usual Consortium style.
We are glad that we can present you one of the two shoes from the great Packer x adidas Consortium ZX capsule in the Overkillshop. On Saturday, October 19th 2019 the Packer x adidas Consortium ZX Torsion “Mega Violet” will be available in our online store and also instore at Köpenicker Strasse 195A.
In order not to falsify the statements of the following interview with Mike Packer, we have left it in English.
Overkill: Hey Mike, great to have you back for a quick interview about your latest collaboration with adidas. You recently released the adidas ZX 9000 “Meadow Violet” and this Saturday it will be the ZX Torsion “Mega Violet”. We have told our readers where the inspiration for the “Meadow Violet” comes from and the story of its transformation from a “proud symbol of nature’s beauty to a corrupted byproduct of its environment.” We here in Germany don’t know much about the flower or environmental problems of New Jersey. Could you tell us what made you use the flower and its story as inspiration? And is this pack a little bit of a political statement?
Mike Packer: Making a political statement is not what we aimed to do when getting our thoughts together for this project; but if the end result ends up having people open their eyes and think differently in a positive way, all the better. We have always prided ourselves in staying true to who we are, giving the product the attention it deserves and making sure the idea and rollout behind the project makes sense. The ZX franchise and its rich history deserve nothing less when trying to bring a newer sillouhette to the forefront. Taking the OG and now the ZX Torsion which marries heritage together with boost, etc we had a timeline we could use as a baseline and expound on the story from there. Opening up when and where we did in New Jersey has served us extremely well over the years and we have been able to gain worldwide attention and following paying attention to the details near and dear to the business. Taking the NJ state flower, something we never have used as a palette before and getting creative with it from there took some time to get to as we fleshed out the project took on a life of its own so to speak.
Overkill: Okay, that’s comprehensible. So, the shoes looks awesome, Mike, congrats on that. One reason, for sure, is the use of all the different materials. When we look at Packer collaborations in general, material always seems to play a major role. Is that something you would agree with?
Mike Packer: Thank you! We are really proud of the fact that when it comes to our projects, that is one call out that people always have – for the positive. When a brand puts enough trust in us to put our spin on an icon or a new sillouhette to the market, it is imperative that we come correct. People can/cannot be a fan of a brand, franchise or particular sillouhette but when you have those who appreciate the care and details we put into our work, it is really satisfying.
Overkill: We can definitely see and feel how much care and detail you’ve put into all of your collaborations and we know that people really appreciate that. We hear that all the time. Last question. This year’s adidas collaboration shows a lot of parallels to the one from last year. Both feature an archive model and a new silhouette with a lot of archive DNA. Not many stores get these kind of opportunities. Can you explain what the relationship between adidas and Packer Shoes makes so special?
Mike Packer: History and heritage is something we share. We have literally been with “adi” since day one in the US market and I think the perspective we have had, pushed for, even when not the popular choice/voice internally has paid off as we have proven ourselves since our first EQT support capsule a few years back. The lens and how we look at product and projects comes thru when we get to celebrate some of the icons in a way that give it a bit of twist but still stay true and become our own. It is not a lane we created, because the product is the canvas and we can only work in partnership with a brand that gives us an opportunity to exentuate the positives and to evolve the stories behind both of our brands. We have plenty of bullets left in the chamber and I am sure more to come as well………
Overkill: That sounds promising, Mike. We appreciate you taking the time to answer our questions. It was a pleasure. Hope to speak to you soon.
Text: Ernie Beckmann
