Stella in Sneakers

adidas-Salomon AG (Herzogenaurach, Germany) has announced a long-term partnership with fashion designer Stella McCartney to produce an adidas by Stella McCartney sport performance collection. The first collection will be available in stores across the U.S., Japan and Europe starting spring/summer 2005.

The collection includes products for running, gym/workout and swimming, and cover-ups.

“This collection gives women what they want, products that both perform and look great,” said Bill Sweeney, project leader and head of apparel at the adidas sport performance division. “We combined Stella’s unique design and her instinctive insight into women with adidas’ knowledge in creating breakthrough functional sports products.”

Both companies appointed a designated team to work together on the project, a long-term collaboration. Plans are to cover even more sport performance areas in the future. The first collection will hit retail in February 2005 and will be available in high-end department stores in the U.S. and Japan as well as 18 adidas Sport Performance Center stores in Europe. The collection will roll out twice a year, with price points ranging from 40 to 200 Euros (roughly $49 to $244).