When in 2011 Adidas launched a ubiquitous pink teddy bear sneaker model by Jeremy Scott the fashionistas’ opinions were divided between ‘It’s utterly ridiculous!’ and ‘It’s a collectors’ item!’ Since then pink teddy sneakers kept selling, moreover the bird and the panda versions were introduced, and on 15 November 2013 we’ll see the release of silver and gold ‘Holiday’ edition of the teddy bear sneakers in selected outlets.
Yet, I often wondered where they were selling because I never saw any being actually worn by real people. Until my last shoot for Birmingham Street Style Project. Yes, here. At Brindley Place.
Emily wore her adorable pink Adidas teddy sneakers with a girly coral pink double-breasted coat with faux fur collar and fluffy pompoms. polka dot leggings and white angora hat. She was so pretty in her light pastels, so well put together in her hint-of-kawaii look.
Kawaii, a style that originated in Japan but spread into Korea and China, means ‘cute’, ‘lovable’, ”neat’, ‘charming’, ‘innocent’. It’s very Asian in its sensibilities and should be accepted as such. Kawaii clothes are often in pink and pastel colours and appear as if made for young children to ‘accentuate cuteness of the individuals wearing them’. The accessories are shaped as hearts, strawberries or stuffed animals. No wonder that Jeremy Scott’s teddy bear sneakers, labelled as ‘not easy to wear’ in the West, were so comfortably appropriated in the East. And it’s great that we see some international fashion looks on the streets of Birmingham!
Emily kindly took her coat off and showed more cute clothes. I must say that Emily’s style is not radical, over-the-top kawaii, it’s just a light interpretation in colours and some elements, a cultural echo.