Once you’ve made a shoe for your hometown, how do you follow it up? That question has weighed on our minds since we started development of the adidas Melbourne. Inevitably, the only answer was to do it again, only bigger.
Following the debut of the adidas Melbourne, we wanted to do something more specific to the city which inspired it. With the original release, we had multiple people quip “if it’s called the Melbourne then why isn’t it black?”. Indeed anyone familiar with Melbourne knows just how much we all love to wear black. We’re not oblivious to this and designed the most Melbourne version of the adidas Melbourne as an UP THERE exclusive.
Much like the first release, when it came to details we left no stone left unturned—every element considered, refined, and revisited through research and iteration.
Designed in tandem with adidas Consortium, this version builds off archival references found in adi’s extensive Herzo archive. Research revealed a rare version of the ROME made in full black for military use. This formed the basis of the colour blocking.
In-place of colour the shoe relies on texture—from full grain leather, rough-cut suede and gloss—to create contrast. Dressed in black, the upper is made with a soft tumbled leather, accompanied by rough-cut suede accents—ideal for Melbourne's famed four seasons in a day. Our bespoke tongue label reads “MADE FOR UP THERE”—a slight departure from the first release, signifying this version's exclusivity. Branding is subtle, with only green lace tips and the sockliner acting as clues to UP THERE’s role.
More than a shoe, the adidas Melbourne is a celebration of the community, the city and its culture. This is a project Made for Melbourne.
To highlight this, we shot a multi-part campaign across different locations and subcultures across Melbourne. From a mid-afternoon pump sesh at Doherty’s gym with footballers Darcy Moore, Jack Sinclair and Pat Lipinski; to the five o’clock rush in the CBD’s legal district; or our architects Kennedy Nolan’s Fitzroy office.
The adidas Melbourne x UP THERE is a global exclusive, available only from UP THERE on the following date:
In-store May 7, 10AM (AEST) /// Online May 7, 6PM (AEST)
| City | Time Zone |
Local Time |
Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Melbourne | AEST | 6:00 PM | May 7 |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | JST | 5:00 PM | May 7 |
| 🇰🇷 Seoul | KST | 5:00 PM | May 7 |
| 🇫🇷 Paris | CEST | 10:00 AM | May 7 |
| 🇬🇧 London | BST | 9:00 AM | May 7 |
| 🇺🇸 New York | EDT | 4:00 AM | May 7 |
| 🇺🇸 Los Angeles | PDT | 1:00 AM | May 7 |
In-Store Launch Event — Friday 8th May:
Join us to celebrate the launch of the adidas Melbourne — food by Hugo's, DJ Amin Payne, 6–8pm at 69 Flinders Ln.
