The Dragon | adidas Y-3 Yamamoto +F50 Tunit YY Football Boots
adidas Y-3 Yamamoto +F50 Tunit YY Dragon
A further look at Yohji Yamamoto's art inspired creation for adidas.
In 2006 adidas teamed up with the influential Japanese streetwear designer Yohji Yamamoto to produce 4 football boots like none ever seen before. The adidas Y-3 Yamamoto +F50 Tunit YY football boots were produced in four creature styles; a Dragon, Eagle, Tiger and a Wolf. Here we take a close look at the only mythical creature on the list, the Dragon.
Yamamoto is an award winning Japanese fashion designer and first hooked up with adidas in 2003 to launch the Y-3 line, a premium label of adidas fashion clothing. Three years later he dipped into football design taking inspiration from his fellow countryman, artist Taishi Hayashi, to create four boots, including the Y-3 +F50 Tunit Dragon edition.
Like the rest of the adidas Y-3 Yamamoto +F50 Tunit YY pack, the face of the creature sits on the front of the boots bearing its teeth. The limited edition boots are now a sought after collectors items, with only 1000 pairs released worldwide. Each pair came locked in its own cage, brandished with a plaque embossed with the adidas logo.
Each design perfectly matched the adidas F50.6 Tunit football boots which were fully interchangeable, and could be built upon arrival at the ground depending on the playing conditions. As well as either a 'Pro-Lite Speed' or 'Comfort' chassis, the adidas Tunit system incorporated SG, FG and HG studs, giving you three boots in one.
The Yamamoto's weren't the only Tunit's adidas launched that year as limited editions. For the 2006 World Cup in Germany, adidas released a limited run of "International" themed uppers, 32 in all. Every country that competed during the Finals had a F50.6 upper created and styled using the traditional national colours, as well as emblems and icons on the heel or around the boot.