Design Manchester celebrates stripes, shell toes and Stan Smiths

After a highly successful London showcase in July 2013, Spezial curators Gary Aspden and Mike Chetcuti bring sneaker heads and trainer lovers together to share an even larger collection of Adidas footwear in Manchester.

The Spezial 2014 Exhibition showcases additional collections from a host of local collectors, including Nigel Lawson, Barry Bown, Neil Pestell, Bobby McCarten, Pete Lawton and Alan Hodgkiss.

Considering the region has one of the highest concentrations of Adidas collectors in the world, Manchester is the perfect place to exhibit the archive footwear and quotes from influential aficionados: designers, musicians, collectors and fans – all with a story to tell on the role trainers have played in their lives.

Malcolm Garrett, co-curator of Design Manchester says, “It is fantastic that a company with a lengthy connection to this city, are bringing the Spezial collection to the festival this year. The curator, Gary Aspden, is himself a Northerner and likens this to a homecoming for Adidas.”

Design Manchester is an annual, week long festival of creativity that this year is themed around the science of imagination.

You can find the free Spezial 2014 exhibition at 7 Dale Street in the Northern Quarter until November 2, as part of Design Manchester.