Flightless Fancy: The adidas Italia Gets Ostrich-Leather 'Fit

and Yes, the latter brand is as German as a beer boot, but the Three Stripes have earned a spot at the green, white and red table by way of their 'Made in Italy' line, which has just delivered an ostrich-leather remix of their Italia model.

The adidas Italia originally leapt off the Dassler production line in 1959, designed as a multi-sport shoe especially for the 1960 Rome Olympics. Featuring a malleable leather upper, rubber outsole and serrated-edge overlays, it never quite reached the of its and kin – but the Three Stripes couldn't quite forget this elegant silhouette. They exhumed it from the archives with 'Made in Italy' magic in in a 'Core White/Green' colourway that crooned sophistication.

Now the Italia is back and dressed in one of the most specialised sorts of leathers an artisan (Italian or otherwise) can produce: ostrich. There's no mistaking those vacant quill follicles (the little nubs dotted across the upper) – adidas have brought luxury out of the archives and into your rotation... as long as you can pony up the $400 required.

For those who admire clean lines, a lightweight build, a dab of history and a dash of indulgence, the adidas Italia in ostrich leather may well be worth the sticker. It's out now.

Ostrich isn't the only exotic skin adidas have utilised in their 'Made in Italy' line. Read about their or brush up on why brands are ditching real skins altogether,