adidas and Prada are looking to the future whilst reimagining iconic silhouettes in their third collection together. The adidas for Prada Re-Nylon collection is made up of 21 pieces. Whereas the brands’ previous collaborations have focused on classic adidas shapes like the Superstar, this iteration includes ready-to-wear items, accessories, and bags, as well as footwear.

The collection was crafted in Italy by Prada using its Re-Nylon material. Re-Nylon is made from a recycled fiber produced by Aquafil, an Italian textile yarn manufacturer. Nylon waste collected from ocean fishing nets and landfill is chemically processed to its original purity and spun into yarn. The designer claims that its Re-Nylon is “infinitely recyclable” with “no loss of quality.”

The 100% regenerated nylon has been utilized by Prada since 2019 in special collections and collaborations. The fashion house stated last year that it aimed to “shift the entire Prada production from virgin nylon to Re-Nylon […] by the end of 2021” as part of its “commitment to sustainable practice now and in the future.”

The collection centers on a reimagining of the adidas Originals Forum silhouette in High and Low options. Constructed in Re-Nylon, the sneaker also features the playful addition of a detachable Prada mini-pouch and the iconic Prada enameled metal triangle.

Perhaps disappointingly, the sneaker still uses a “luxurious leather” in the Three Stripes detail and forefoot overlays, which seems to contradict Prada’s commitment to sustainable practice. Whilst the company has made progress in fulfilling that commitment in recent years, such as going fur free in 2019 and reducing its usage of raw materials, there is plenty more it could be doing.

In the ready-to-wear department, the items take a different approach, reworking Prada pieces with adidas branding (and constructed with Re-Nylon). A track coat, tracksuit, sweatshirt and hooded jacket are all available in black or white, with contrasting adidas Three Stripes detailing.

A bucket hat and a selection of bags, packs and pouches complete the collection. All are crafted with Re-Nylon in monochrome, with the Three Stripes and the Prada enameled metal triangle.

All pieces “blend adidas’s sporting heritage with Prada’s unmatched legacy of expert craftsmanship,” says Torben Schumacher, general manager at adidas Originals. Each item nods to the iconic design aesthetics of each brand in a way that doesn’t clash or conflict.

Schumacher goes on to say, “we absolutely see this as an opportunity to show that luxury, creativity and craftsmanship can be, and should be, created in a manner that is better for our planet.”

Lorenzo Bertelli, group marketing director and head of corporate social responsibility at Prada, agrees. This collection is more than a collaboration between two brands. “It connects with evolutions in our ideas of luxury, changes in the mindset of consumers, and shifts in the world at large. It is about looking forwards, and thinking of the future,” Bertelli says.

The luxury design industry, which has historically been focused on creating the finest products no matter the cost, is changing. It is beginning to recognize the potential of new technologies that are not just planet-friendly, but that also produce the high level of craft that its customers expect. “This partnership is not just about product: it is about a philosophy,” says Bertelli.

The collection drops on January 13 and will be available via Prada boutiques, prada.com and adidas.com/prada.

For more on how luxury fashion is imagining a better future, take a look at the new MA in Regenerative Design from the Central Saint Martins and LVMH partnership.