It was my birthday a couple of weeks ago, thankfully the pandemic means that I don’t have to age so it was an easy one! My wonderful boyfriend got me a pair of running trainers as he knows how worn down my current pair is, and he knows the best way to motivate me to exercise after a slump is with fun workout gear or new equipment. We’ve been going for runs together for a few years now but had a break over Christmas and January as I just didn’t really feel in the mood for it much. It felt like just getting through the day without taking a nap was the main priority, anyone else felt like that last month?

He knows I only wear vegan and ethically made clothes, so he did his research and found the Stella McCartney x Adidas collections. Knowing Adidas’ reputation for good quality trainers, and my obsessions with all things Stella, he knew it would be a solid bet. I was well and truly spoilt as he’d put together a ‘workout package’ with leggings, a t-shirt, socks, and of course, the running trainers. I was really blown away, he’s so sweet!

I wanted to share with you all the details of these trainers, as I know it can be confusing and frustrating sometimes when you’re shopping for new footwear, especially with so much greenwashing around. I am head over heels in love with these trainers (and boyfriend too) and I definitely think it’s a sign of where the future of footwear is headed. So, without any further ado, let’s dive in!

The Adidas by Stella McCartney Ultraboost 20 shoes are designed in a retro style, with a mix of soft beige and yellow, juxtaposed with bright orange and utility black. The combination of the knitted fabric with the rubber and plastic details makes these look very utilitarian, but with that ‘mash-up’ look that’s been more popular in footwear over recent years. They feature the collaboration logo on the tongue and have the Ultraboost logo on the back of the sole. I love the chevron stripes on the upper section, as well as the variations of stripes across the whole design. 

The shoe is designed with a sock-like Primeknit upper that hugs the foot, and an overlay of fabric to create added stability. The laces sit within the bright orange elasticated hoops for more flexibility. 

These lightweight running trainers are designed for running on road, and ideal for up to 10K runs (we rarely even get to 5K so these shoes are already challenging me to go further!). When I wear them, I can barely feel them on, but they have a powerful ‘boost’ in the midsole cushion that gives me that extra lift-off that I desperately need on my runs. They also have a Continental sole which has 30% more traction!

The shoe's upper is made with Primeblue, a high-performance recycled material containing at least 50% Parley Ocean Plastic; upcycled plastic waste intercepted on remote islands, beaches, coastal communities and shorelines, preventing it from polluting our ocean. This is just part of Adidas’ commitment to continue to innovate in the area of sustainability until they reach their goal of being completely off virgin polyester by 2024.  

It’s great to see brands start to use recycled plastic more, it’s still a long way off from true sustainability but if we support these initiatives, we will surely see a rise in demand for these steps in the right direction. I would also love if brands like Adidas set up beach clean initiatives, or donated a % of their sales to anti-plastic campaigns.

I’m so looking forward to styling these shoes with other outfits too, not just for workouts! I will share these on Instagram so if you’re not already following me, come on over.