adidas ZX 8000 – History of an adidas icon

We travel back to 1984, which is exactly where the history of the adidas ZX family begins. With the ZX 500, the brand with the three stripes presented the first sneaker of the ZX models. Originally, the shoe was designed for runners and athletes and should cover all the wishes and needs of athletes - no matter for which training. A true all-rounder, it was one of the first silhouettes to offer a supportive torsion bar, which allowed for weight-saving split midsole technology. With the Torsion technology, adidas and its two designers, Markus Thaler and Jacques Chassaing, opened a new era in running shoes.

Raver-Legend between Berlin and Manchester

Late in the 80s, adidas brought the ZX 8000 onto the market. Like many a sneaker, the ZX 8000 became the status symbol of a subculture. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, East Berliners took their first look at the adidas ZX 8000 - and were instantly in love. But the sneaker caused a sensation not only in Berlin, but also in the north of England. During the second "Summer of Love" in the UK at the end of the 80s, the ZX 8000 and its big sister ZX 9000 became a favorite of the acid house rave scene in Manchester. But why exactly there? The reasons for their use in the party scene were many: thanks to the torsion bar, the sneakers were very comfortable and it was possible to dance through until the early hours of the morning. Thanks to the vibrant color scheme, the runners also set a status symbol.

A heart for the OG - adidas Originals ZX 8000 "Aqua

Techno parties were and are often one thing: pulsating, colorful, loud. So it's no wonder why the OG was chosen for the wild parties. The legendary adidas ZX 8000 "Aqua" is an undisputed favorite that belongs on every sneaker shelf. With its iconic "Aqua" colorway in turquoise with yellow elements, the ZX 8000 is a true gem from the adidas archive. In 2020, adidas launched a new edition of the classic and equipped the ZX 8000 "Aqua" with BOOST technology. Of course, Mischa and Olli had to convince themselves of this and have the new "Aqua" - let's call it - "processed" to get to the bottom of the matter. But take a look at the story yourself on our Blog.

The ZX wave continues

After the first wave, the ZX 8000 made its comeback in 2008 when adidas presented the first A-ZX line. With 22 partners in the adidas consortium, including partners like Colette, HUF and IRAK, A-ZX gave some of the best creative minds in the world the chance to create their own ZX models. Twelve years later, adidas Originals 2020 launches the third wave of ZX, this time working with 26 global partners. What's special about this collection? Under the motto »A to ZX« adidas Originals presents a matching model for each letter of the alphabet. This time, partners such as Atmos, IRAK and Juventus Turin are also involved.

adidas x LEGO ZX 8000

However, we would like to highlight one shoe from this collection in particular: The adidas x LEGO ZX 8000. As big fans of the colorful bricks, this shoe is definitely THE highlight of the A-ZX series. The ZX 8000 comes in red, yellow, blue and green and has some features from different LEGO bricks. This sneaker is a must-have for any LEGO fan.

How does the adidas ZX 8000 fit?

adidas sneakers often run a little smaller. If you are not sure, it is better to choose the larger size.