crooked tongues magazine News Features

You've got to appreciate this shoe. We like the unpredictable nature of the adidas Originals rollout — one minute it's nothing but 1970s and 1980s retros, but then a model like the Torsion Allegra makes its return. If you're umming and aahing about the midnight drop of the Consortium Solebox makeup of this model (which you've got a very slim chance of obtaining because numbers are incredibly low) or the equally amazing tribute to the Torsion Allegra's 1992 predecessor, the Allegra S (and you might get them, because numbers are a little higher), we recommend grabbing a pair, because this shoe is a thing of beauty. Obscurer than the Allegra S, but a better shoe (the S had a great set of colours but was one of several solid Torsion shoes from that year), the Torsion Allegra is from the class of 1994, giving the S a more unconventional makeover, with the 3-stripe EQT-style framework evolving to let the underlay mesh show through them and twinning a more conventional adi Torsion running forefoot with the straighter last and more futuristic rear shape.

Additionally, the 1994 era Torsion Allegra has the neoprene sock fit that, with the moulded stripes and cross Torsion technology outsole made it an incredible performance piece that brings back memories of days when shoes like this, the forgotten but excellent Torsion Revenge and the Torsion Response were showing us that this technology was still relevant. We're sure some minor alterations were made to the sole details and the forefoot panels, but honestly, our sole experience of seeing an OG was during some kind of archive excursion. This colourway, set for release next month should cushion the blow of missing out on the Consortium variations — salmon pink, speckles and navy and grey is a beautiful colourway that makes the most of this model's key features. If you wear a pair, that bright orange 'X' of Torsion bars on the outsole is so pretty, you might want to upgrade to a more frolicking walking style to show them off. A brilliant shoe in a brilliant colourway. We hope success encourages adidas to consider bringing back more shoes from this hitherto unearthed era of post-EQT cult classics. These drop in January and the Consortium versions hit the store at midnight (they're slightly, but not unbearably snug, so half a size up might be beneficial).