Since its debut in 1989, the adidas ZX 8000 has stood as one of the most influential silhouettes in adidas’ rich archive. Originally engineered as part of adidas’ pioneering ZX running series — a franchise designed to deliver technical innovation for long-distance runners — the ZX 8000 quickly transcended its performance roots to become a cultural icon embraced far beyond the track.
To celebrate the launch of the adidas x OFFSPRING ZX8000 collaboration, we partnered with three members of the wider community whose connection to the silhouette reflects its enduring impact and versatility. Each individual represents a different perspective, generation and relationship with the shoe, yet all are united by a shared passion for the franchise.
We teamed up with community member @gursher_singh_ — a photographer and stylist based in East London — whose work spans editorials, brand campaigns, and everyday moments captured through his own lens, to explore what the model means to him from a styling perspective.
“Stylist and sneakerhead at heart — if I’m not shooting, I’m building looks, putting together outfits, and probably thinking about footwear.”
The adidas ZX8000 had fashion aficionado adidas heads in a spin when it first launched, from the North of England to the streets of West London. For OG adidas collector and community member @delcleveland66 , the connection runs deep.
“My mum bought me my first pair of adidas — a pair of adidas Kick — for my 11th birthday in 1977. Then, when I was 16 or 17, I bought my first pair of green adidas Gazelles with my first proper wage packet.
I’ve always had a love for adidas, but sometimes life takes over and you can’t always have what you want. I always had a few pairs, but really got back into it in the noughties and haven’t looked back since — it’s grown steadily from there.”
When it comes to ZX it’s not often we hear what the feeling was like when it first hit the shelves. Del tells us
“I remember the day the ZX8000 launched — they were lairy, bright and completely different from the boring grey-and-blue trainers of the time. They really stood out. I’ve also got vivid memories of them being big on the rave scene, probably because they were so comfortable, loud and easy to move in. They just suited the energy of that era and this Offspring pair gives me the same vibes ”
For Steve Bryden @st3vexyz — London creative consultant and sneaker OG taste maker — the impact was immediate. He still remembers the first time he saw the shoe at launch.
“The first time I saw the ZX8000, I knew it was special. It was my first day working in a sports shop in Central London, and it immediately stood out from every other shoe on the shelf. The design, the colour, the technology — especially the Torsion Bar — I’d never seen anything like it before. This shoe had an attitude of its own.”
The OFFSPRING x adidas ZX8000 embodies this attitude through its 80s inspired colour palette
Since its inception, the ZX 8000 has stood at the intersection of innovation and design - renowned not only for its pioneering technology, but for its fearless and instantly recognisable colour palettes. The OFFSPRING collaboration pays homage to that legacy, incorporating the iconic EQT green - a shade synonymous with the adidas brand - alongside vibrant varsity-inspired hues drawn from memorable iterations of the silhouette’s past.
The result is a contemporary expression of the ZX 8000s unmistakable visual identity. This edition pushes that narrative even further with a Glow-in-the-dark detailing and reflective elements elevate the design, ensuring visibility and impact from day to night - a modern evolution of the ZX 8000.
Launching on the 23rd of May 2026 at OFFSPRING
