Welcome to Manchester. A city carved half-red half-blue. Factory Records and Warehouse Projects. Stone-faced musicians and resilient worker bees. Where seemingly constant rainfall refuses to dampen the stalwart spirit of this Northern powerhouse.Â
Although not a founding member of the inaugural adidas Originals ‘City Series’ from the ‘70s and ‘80s, the adidas Originals ‘Manchester’ still holds just as much symbolism as all of the others that have come before it. However, the city itself would have to wait until after the turn of the millennium to come into existence in footwear form, when Manchester hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2002 for the very first time; a monolithic milestone for the beloved North West region – in both regards – that has an organic affinity for all things 3-Stripes.
Highlighting colours representative of the city’s two major football teams, there were only 600 pairs made for the initial release, which mirrored the Handball Spezial blueprint. They were constructed from light blue leather uppers with contrast red accents and tonal suede T-toes. This original edition was one of the quickest turnarounds from concept to shelf that adidas ever did.
For our 10th anniversary celebrations back in 2010, we brought it back as a super-limited 1/500 run that retained the original colourway, but swapped the soft leather underlay for durable canvas. Then, in 2020, we released the Córdoba for our 20th anniversary – Manchester’s twin city. The lore is immense with this one, and that’s why it would’ve been criminal not to bring it back yet again for our 25th anniversary.
Flipping the colours from the very first pairs ever made back in 2002, our adidas Originals Manchester ‘Anniversary City Series’ – size? exclusive connotes the duality of the city through a sheeny red nylon upper construction with reflective 3M blue leather 3-Stripes and tonal suede T-toes. Underfoot, navy rubber outsoles provide agile grip, while ‘1/2025’ gold foil wordmarks are etched across the heels, hallmarking the rare event.
The final instalment in our ‘Anniversary City Series’ trades Glasgow’s raw energy for Manchester’s raw creativity. This was only ever going to end one way, back in our North West home, where it all began.
The draw for the adidas Originals Manchester ‘Anniversary City Series’ opens on the size? launches app on 07.12.25.