A bejewelled crown, a conch shell, and a colossal balloon: the SS23 campaign for Wales Bonner’s collaboration with adidas Originals takes to the coast of Jamaica where photographer duo Jalan and Jibril Durimel capture “the benevolence of Caribbean youth.” Soundtracked to wild birdsong, twinkling pipes, and the familiar lilt of the island’s locals, an accompanying film captures the spirit-raising experience of an adolescence spent careening between jungle and sea. With languid underwater shots and slow-mo beach runs, the film is baked in all the yearning and nostalgia that collects around words like ‘paradise’ and ‘home’.
Having collaborated with Bonner on various editorials – including a photographic series with Sampha and the designer’s SS22 collection for adidas Originals – the twin brothers have played an essential role in crafting the poetic, tender-hearted visuals of Grace Wales Bonner. “Our collaborations seem to work well because we are all quite decisive and intentional with our work. But we also share a faithful respect for spontaneity,” Jalan and Jibril explain. “This project developed as most others have. Grace will share her thoughts on storytelling but she always gives us space to interpret the collection from our point of view. In the end, our collaborations are based on trust and that’s what excited us about the project from its inception.”
For her SS23 collection with adidas Originals, Bonner recreates the Harrington jackets and flared trousers once beloved by the Kingston rudeboys. She draws inspiration from the country’s kaleidoscopic landscape in teal-coloured tracksuits, metallic anoraks, and geometric rollnecks, and she evokes its laid-back spirit in matching towelling sets. But perhaps the most enduring touchstone of Bonner and adidas’ enduring partnership is the sneakers – this time reimagined in silver leather and crochet-striped Sambas, while the WB SL72 has been refigured with Jamaican yellow and green panels. Click through the gallery above to see the rest of the collection, and watch the accompanying campaign video here.
The adidas Originals by Wales Bonner SS23 collection is available globally on June 9 at adidas.com, the Confirmed app, and in selected retailers.