The Forum is an icon among the sneaker cognoscenti, those who know its storied history on the hardwood, its role in shaping the aesthetic of hip-hop’s earliest days, its mark on the zeitgeist. Not many shoes can transcend time the same way the titular pair has close to four decades now.

While its relevancy is far from what it was in its zenith, it nevertheless has its own following within the modern crowd. Over its lifespan, the palette has shifted from the high-tops being the quintessence, to more favor over a lower build. Thus, the introduction of the mid-cut version of the classic.

Its aesthetic is mostly the same, but its construction elevated. Black suede envelopes the shoe through most of its exterior, only broken apart by white leather overlays. They accent the shoe on the vamp, the collar, as well as the lining on the crown. But it makes its presence strongly on the Three Stripes on the profiles and another on the tongue tag. The uniformity of the monochromatic mix allows for the golden Trefoil logo on the lateral collar to stand out. Holistically, the shoe retains its vintage look through the off-white midsoles and the rubber gum outsole underfoot, typical of its epoch.

The black adidas Originals Forum Mid will be released at adidas.com on 10 December with a RRP of JPY14,300 (~US$105).

In other sneaker-related news, check out the new Vans x Sci-Fi Fantasy collection.