Welcome back to the SELEKT series, where we take you through the story behind exciting, hype sneakers. The Sambas and Gazelles are two of the hottest adidas models right now, but the latest classic Originals silhouette to get some traction is the adidas Campus. On this issue of SELEKT we’ll take you through all the different Campus versions.
Campus 80s
One of adidas’ most enduring models, the simple design of the Campus 80s is the definition of low-profile. The Campus was originally released as a basketball shoe in the early 70s, though it went by a different name, the Tournament. It was then rereleased as the adidas Campus in the 80s, and gained popularity as a streetwear item. While the Campus has had its fair share of collabs, it’s still most recognisable by its classic collegiate suede uppers and white stripes.
Back in the 80s, the Campus was a staple among b-boy crews. The adidas Superstar had Run DMC, but the Campus was the favourite of their fellow NYC artists, the Beastie Boys. MCA and Mike D famously wore them on the cover of their 1992 album, Check Your Head. The band continued collecting and rocking the Campus on stage, even after they were discontinued in 1987. Since then the Campus has been in and out of production but always in style thanks to its iconic simplicity.
Campus 00s
In the 2000s, the silhouette got a slight reboot in the form of the Campus 00s. This version uses the timeless design as a foundation and adds some unmistakable mid-2000s skate quirks, mainly the fat tongue and laces. The cupsole also comes in slightly chunkier, with most colourways featuring a gum outsole for some classic skate flavour.
Brought back in 2022, this pair looks primed to take full advantage of the nostalgic Y2K trend. Unboxing videos of this shoe have taken off on TikTok, and we’ve even noticed its momentum picking up on the aftermarket. While these may be driven by viral hype, their packed with plenty of detail to appreciate. The Campus 00s are a perfect blend of two eras on a simple, stylish silhouette.
Bad Bunny
Of course, we couldn’t talk about the current Campus lineup without mentioning the new collabs from Bad Bunny. Following his work on the adidas Forum and Response CL, Bad Bunny adds his recognisable touches to the familiar Campus silhouette.
The most noticeable addition is a unique mudguard, extending from the classic cupsole to the bottom of the suede upper. Extra padding is added to the ankle, with the nylon tongue showing off Bad Bunny’s eye symbol from his album X 100pre. So far, two colours have dropped, ‘Cloud White’ and ‘Wild Moss’. There’s also an upcoming ‘Blue Tint’ pair coming up, this time with a translucent mudguard and sole.
The adidas x Bad Bunny Campus ‘Wild Moss’ is available now on KLEKT. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the range of Campus 00s.
