Stella McCartney introduced the Rasant unisex trainer at her Summer 2025 runway show during Paris Fashion Week, in collaboration with adidas. The high-top silhouette, crafted entirely from vegan materials, is a nod to vintage racing shoes and a style from McCartney’s first-ever collection presentation with her eponymous fashion house in 2001. The Rasant is worn both by models on the runway and change makers from Stella McCartney and adidas’ shared communities, exemplifying the brand's commitment to sustainability and inclusion.
The Rasant name is derived from the German word for “rapid,” referencing the sneaker's racing heritage. It draws inspiration from the iconic adidas Monza sneaker, worn by legendary race car drivers in the 1970s and 1980s.
McCartney styled models in the Monza for her debut Spring/Summer 2002 runway collection in October 2001, which initiated the conversations that ultimately led to the creation of the adidas by Stella McCartney collaboration. This aesthetic, marked by an unexpected juxtaposition of sexiness and sportiness, feminine and masculine, has since become a defining characteristic of the Stella McCartney brand.
For Summer 2025, the Rasant has been modernised with an innovative construction using cruelty-free, animal-free alternatives to nubuck leather, aligning with McCartney’s longstanding commitment to sustainability. The design of the Rasant represents a fusion of high performance and high fashion, with cascading layered lace on fabric to create a sense of movement, a natural colour palette, and a streamlined shape.
The Rasant's design DNA is deeply rooted in the adidas Monza sneaker, originally worn by race car driver Mario Andretti during the 1977 and 1978 racing seasons. A high-top version was introduced in 1980, which was later worn by Michèle Mouton, a trailblazing French rally driver. Mouton’s role as a female pioneer in racing helped solidify the Monza’s place in both motorsports and women’s sportswear history.
Since the launch of adidas by Stella McCartney in 2004, the collaboration has been dedicated to empowering boundary-breaking female athletes. It was among the first partnerships of its kind, and the collaboration outfitted Team GB at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The partnership is entirely vegan and continues to push the boundaries of innovation, focusing on high-performance sportswear materials with a reduced environmental impact.
The Stella McCartney x adidas Rasant trainer is available for pre-order at stellamccartney.com now, with the official in-store and online release set for January 2025.
This trainer represents the next step in the collaboration's commitment to sustainability, performance, and stylish innovation for the future.
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