END. and adidas SPZL Return for a Manchester-Rooted Second Collaboration
British retailer END. and adidas SPZL curator Gary Aspden are back for a second collaboration. The seven-piece collection draws on Manchester’s musical heritage, with Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder and Black Grape’s Kermit fronting the campaign.
We put a set of questions to END.’s Chief Product Officer, Martin Wieczorek.
On Manchester’s Influence
How did Manchester’s culture and creative identity shape the collection and campaign?
“For us, it wasn’t just about Manchester. While it’s always been a hub for adidas and SPZL in the UK, the collaboration actually grew out of building on our 2024 project, which told the story of END. and SPZL through a coastal lens. That narrative linked back to END.’s roots in the North, exploring music, travel and the influence of sport on fashion. This collection is really an extension of that idea. During the concept phase, we talked about travelling from our base to explore the UK and Europe, bringing back influences from fashion and music that ultimately shape the way people dress.”
Why Shaun Ryder and Kermit
Why were Shaun Ryder and Kermit the right people to represent the collaboration?
“We wanted to reinforce the connection between SPZL and the Northern music scene, and thanks to Gary’s relationships we were able to get Shaun and Kermit involved. We’re always keen to dig a little deeper rather than go with the obvious choice, so when Black Grape came into the conversation it felt like the perfect fit. It allowed us to celebrate a part of that culture that’s slightly outside the usual gaze.”
The Thinking Behind the END. x adidas SPZL Product Range
What was the thinking behind selecting the New York II Outdoor, Munchen II and Lytham SPZL?
“Unlike when we’re working on a single product with a brand, creating a collection allows us to fully immerse ourselves in its world. A big part of that is exploring different areas of the product range. Working across three very different silhouettes gave us the opportunity to take the collection on a journey, creating different stories and appealing to different customers. Each shoe has its own reason for existing within the collection and its own point of view on how and why it would be worn.”
How the Golden Ticket Came About
How did the Golden Ticket idea come about, and why introduce it with this release?
“It was actually a pretty simple idea. Whenever we’re developing a collection like this, we’ll sample multiple versions of each product. With the New York II, it was incredibly difficult to choose between the two final samples. Rather than leave one behind, we decided to bring both to life, but make one of them feel truly special through the Golden Ticket concept.”
On the Standout Piece
Which piece best represents the collaboration, and what makes it stand out?
“For me, it’s got to be the New York II. Having previously worked on the Moscrop II and the original New York as part of the ‘Three Bridges’ capsule in 2020, we knew we wanted a silhouette in this collection that we could approach in a similarly considered way. The combination of contrasting materials and colours allowed us to create something that feels completely different from both those earlier projects and the previous New York interpretations within Gary’s SPZL collections.”
END. x adidas SPZL: Release Details
The seven-piece END. x adidas SPZL collection is led by the New York II Outdoor SPZL, Munchen II SPZL and Lytham SPZL, alongside an apparel offer built around the return of the ST-11 Jacket, Angelzarke Track Top, Elenshaw Cap and Brockhall T-Shirt. The range features soft greens, retro-running panelling and pigskin suede detailing throughout.
A limited number of Golden Ticket pairs — an alternate New York II Outdoor SPZL sample colourway — will be hidden inside random boxes in END. statement stores as a surprise for in-store shoppers.
The collection launches Friday 17th July 2026 in all END. stores and online at endclothing.com.
