adidas Originals SNS GT “Tokyo”

The adidas Originals SNS GT "Tokyo" brings back the original "Stockholm GT" shoe from 1980 with a colorway that pays homage to Tokyo, the latest city that SNS calls home since 2019. The low-top retro adidas sneaker has a suede construction with white leather stripes.

Together with Keisuke Baba we are highlighting the strong casual football influence in the buzzing city, a subcultural phenomenon where football reigns supreme led by the multi-faced stylist and his crew of “The Beautiful Game” supporters. In addition, we have worked with illustrator Jun Inagawa who blends his UK-influences with signature Manga-style art for the campaign.

SNS Meets Keisuke Baba

SNS : Please introduce yourself.

Keisuke : I am Keisuke Baba, born in October 1958, and I am a costume stylist.

SNS : Could you tell us how you became interested in British culture?

Keisuke : First of all, it was music. I think it was in the latter half of my elementary school years that I first became interested in British music by listening to the Beatles. Then I learned about other artists such as T-REX and Pink Floyd through listening to the radio, and I have been a fan of British music ever since.

SNS : How did music lead you to like British culture and from there to fashion?

Keisuke : I guess it was around the time of the Beatles. I started to be interested in the idea of wearing stand-up collared jackets, mushroom cuts, long hair, and so on. Next was the Sex Pistols, I think? Also, when I was around 20, Quadrophenia was screened, and that's when I first learned about mods and rockers. The era in which music and fashion were linked, so I was interested in New Wave, the New Romanticism, the Pirates, and many other things.

SNS : Have you ever lived in England?

Keisuke : I think I was there from late '85 to '87. At that time, young people were more concentrated in the east than in Shoreditch like these days, the area around Soho was still the center of fashion and coolness. I learned a lot from seeing them.

SNS : British music culture has had a tremendous influence, but has there been any influence from soccer culture when you have lived there?

Keisuke : Football is a part of the lifestyle in England. You are a fan of a particular team for life. When I lived there before the Premier League started, the fans were standing, which was very scary. So I've never gone to see it, but certainly living in the UK it was part of my life too.

SNS : There are various ways to avoid people seeing which team you support, and I think The Casuals, which became the main theme of this shoot, was born out of that.

Keisuke : The Casuals don't show off the team they support, they don't wear jerseys, and they wear hoods so that people don't recognize them, which I thought was an interesting culture.

I think the Casuals started in 1992, and I had already returned home, but it was the heyday of rave parties, and the music was very much Manchester, with the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses, etc. Yes, so I definitely think the culture continues with music.

SNS : How does your work in Tokyo reflect the influences of your time in England?

Keisuke : When I was there, there was a group called Buffalo Style, which was led by stylist Ray Petray, and I was in England at the time, so I went to places where they gathered and was inspired by the way they styled. I was inspired by them.

SNS : Football is also a part of UK culture, and I think that adidas sneakers play a major role in the casual era. What do you think about that?

Keisuke : I remember when I was in junior high school, it's an old story, but of course, we didn't call them sneakers yet. It was called zuck in Japan. Sneakers have evolved since then. I used to think they were a little painful, and they were thin. These are still old school but very comfortable, and the heel design is the same color is stylish. The letters are gold which is also very stylish.

SNS : We had a lot of young guys for this photoshoot, and I wonder if they are around the same age when you started with your interest in British culture.

Keisuke : Yeah, they are all around the early 20s.

I have learned and absorbed many things from older friends, so now if I can pass them on to the younger generation, they will continue to learn about British culture and many other things. I guess I am their teacher.