Written by Bec Loades in New Collections on the 1st September 2017

Love Adidas? Love tennis? Well if your answer is yes yes, Pharrell Williams’ new collection combining the two might be right up your street. As you may or may not know Pharrell Williams has been an ambassador and designer for Adidas since 2014 and is probably most well-known for his version of the classic Stan Smith trainer and of course the ‘Human Race’ NMD shoe which is, and was, an instant sell out. He has had a huge influence on the brand, particularly with his shoe designs and it doesn’t come as a huge surprise that he is taking his collaboration a step further with a full sportswear collection. His personal admiration of the fashion industry and his quirky sense of style certainly shines through, along with his philanthropic nature.

This collection really focuses on the 'golden era' of the sport and you can instantly see this with the style of each piece. Pharrell's aim with the design was to 'remix iconic looks' from the 1970s when tennis champions were pretty bold and brave (think back McEnroe‘s headbands and ultra-short shorts) with their personal style. This is certainly reflected with the primary colour blocking scheme that Pharrell and Adidas have used with bright red, marigold yellow and navy blue against the traditional white background. An off-white pinstripe has also been selected for a few pieces as a nod back to the original style of typical retro tennis attire.

For the menswear in this collection there are preppy polos, shorts and track tops. The accessories include a towel, wristbands, knee socks and a vintage style cow suede leather 'Team Bag'. A main standout piece in the collection is a classic cable knit-sweater which Pharrell has re-styled with engineered cuff and collar tippings. There is also a new selection of Adizero Ubersonic and Barricade tennis shoes available which feature newly designed knitted material for comfort and durable support. With the striking soles of the Barricade 2017, you won’t be ignored in a match. All the pieces have been created with the purpose of functionality on the court, so this isn’t just your usual fashion collaboration, it is one which has been designed using specific sporting technology. The collection is available from the 31st August and ranges in price from around £40 to £400.

Superstar international tennis players have been involved in the modelling of the new kit as well as attending his tennis event in New York last week. In Harlem, he launched his “Don’t Be Quiet Please” campaign which encourages people to sit on top of unique umpire chairs, speak loudly with positivity, and inspire a younger generation to transform the world we live in. It seems tennis is predominantly on the brain for Pharrell as he also announced his partnership with a non-profit organisation (Horizons) to help provide tennis scholarships for children. This all seems to role in well with his bright and colourful new collection. Modelling various pieces of the capsule Adidas collection and wearing them on the first day of the US Open, were the likes of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Garbine Murguruza, Angelique Kerber and Sascha Zverev.

Featuring the Adizero Ubersonic and clothing inspired by 1970's tennis champions, we take a first look at the new Adidas Tennis Collection by Pharrell Williams.