“Both Adidas and myself have a mutual respect,” Yohji Yamamoto explained at the kit launch inside the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. “Our partnership has lasted so well because we work well together. It is truly a matrimony of design between fashion and sport,” he added. The pair’s creative coming together first came about when Yamamoto created a collection of limited-edition adidas trainers for his autumn/winter 01 Yohji Yamamoto womenswear collection. Alek Wek appeared draped in black in a look that still feel fresh today. Striking a chord with the everyday reality of the street, it was the perfect mix of high and low, formal and casual. A few years later, Yohji Yamamoto launched his line with Adidas, and duly kick-started two global, industry-defining trends: high fashion sportswear and a new breed of covetable collaboration. With over a decade of Y-3 behind them them both, the duo have continually shown that the poetry and purity of Yamamoto’s tailoring and conceptual skills can be applied to the world of sportswear with the technical ingenuity and innovation of the German giant. Here, they take their relationship to the next step. With Adidas entrusting Yamamoto to dress the jewels in their footballing crown as they strive to create history by becoming the first team to win back-to-back Champions League trophies.
“As a matter of fact, as a Japanese fan, I like Real Madrid the best,” Yamamoto stated with a smile, circled by a selection of players and club ambassadors. “The dragon is a character that is important in mythology whilst black is important to me,” he succinctly noted on the design. Only Yamamoto would be brave enough to cloak the superstars of Los Blancos in black. In thinking about Real Madrid’s legacy, Yamamoto daydreamed about a heroic story casting today’s players as modern-day heroes, achieving mythical status through continued victory. With this artistic vision in mind, Yamamoto created a visual motif in his signature style. He produced an original canvas painting depicting a fabled creature both dragon and bird. The beast symbolising the dragon’s strength, determination, and power and the bird’s speed, agility, and cunning – all qualities Real Madrid’s players strive to demonstrate on the pitch.
“I will wear the shirt with a great deal of pride,” new signing James Rodriguez beamed in one of his first official appearances for his new club. “To win the Champions League last season was a dream,” Gareth Bale noted. “Today, we look to the future and aim to win as many trophies as we can and ultimately, be the first to win this trophy back-to-back.” Tonight, FC Basel would have already feared their formidable opponents but with a mythical dragon on their chests, who would bet against Madrid’s dark knights conquering all who cross their path?
Credits
Text Steve Salter
Photography Takeyoshi Tanuma
[The Livin’ Loud Issue, no. 311, Pre-Spring 2011]