Japanese multi-hyphenate Kosuke Kawamura will be releasing a trio of adidas Originals Campus 80s, as part of the “TOKYO ENERGY” collection. The theme of the pack is “Dirty Beauty”, a phrase the visual artist has a strong affliction to. It was coined by Los Angeles-based artist Cali Thornhill Dewitt, a friend, after she handed her sneakers, saying, “It looks cool after it gets dirty and after it’s worn out, that’s DIRTY. It’s BEAUTY.” It resonated with Kosuke citing that “the worn-out appearance is the perfect sneaker”.

The collection pays homage to his background and love for collage art. A true partner-in-crime, the shoes accompanied him aplenty back in the day, not just when he skated and chilled, but they were there through adversity while he was forging a path of his own. The ethos embodies his “desire for people to experience and accept culture and find beauty even in the darkness they may face.”

The trifecta comes in a suede base layer on the upper complemented by leather overlays on the heel and the white Three Stripes on the profiles. Arriving in “Core Black”, “Ash”, and “College Navy” matching tonal laces complete the exterior alongside the white midsoles. His signatures are manifested on the footbed and outsoles, featuring a skeletal foot monochromatic imprint on the interior, while underfoot, through the crystal rubber, are the words “DIRTY” and “BEAUTY” disparate between the pairs.

They’ll be released on 17 December in Japan through adidas CONFIRMED. The ballot for the pairs are currently open and will close on the 16th, 4:30 PM (JST). The RRP is fixed at JPY14,300 (~US$105).

In other sneaker-related news, check out the incoming A-COLD-WALL x Dr. Martens collaboration.