Golden hour with Wales Bonner and Adidas Originals
This story appears in Justsmile Issue 5.
Justsmile brings Grace Wales Bonner’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection with adidas Originals to a sunny Los Angeles for Issue 5, reinterpreting the rich Hip Hop legacy that inspired it.
Photography Steven Traylor
Styling Tamia Mathis
Text Sahir Ahmed
Kylan wears tank top, pants and shoes ADIDAS ORIGINALS BY WALES BONNER.
Modern Black expression is at the heart of everything Grace Wales Bonner creates—from her eponymous label to her 2023 MOMA show, Spirit Movers and her highly celebrated collections with adidas Originals. Wales Bonner’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection with the sportswear powerhouse pays homage to Hip Hop’s New York roots.
For Issue 5, Justsmile took the line westward, setting the scene in Crenshaw—a South LA neighborhood that's been a cultural hub for the city's Black community for decades. Shot by Steven Traylor, Wales Bonner’s design language—a dialogue between the athletic and the elegant—thrives in this setting.
Evan wears t-shirt and jacket ADIDAS ORIGINALS BY WALES BONNER.
Morgan wears tank top, pants and shoes ADIDAS ORIGINALS BY WALES BONNER.
Kylan wears jacket, shorts, sock and shoes ADIDAS ORIGINALS BY WALES BONNER.
Underpinned by duality, with her English and Jamaican heritage informing her distinctive approach to fashion, the London-born designer’s oeuvre reflects a balance of legacy and modernity, functionality and sophistication, global influence and local specificity. The collection itself is a masterclass in remixing: signature tracksuits and outerwear juxtaposed with floral-printed vests, tailored shorts, and breezy hoodies. It also marks Wales Bonner’s first reprise of the adidas Originals Superstar sneaker, alongside a fresh iteration of the classic Samba, crafted with crocodile-printed leather uppers and contrasting details at the heel.
Through Traylor’s lens, the collection takes on a new life, speaking not only to the histories it honors but also to the rich communities it inhabits. He deftly captures the floral motifs that weave through the collection—a vivid dance of color and texture—emphasizing their sun-soaked West Coast charm.
Evan wears tank top and pants ADIDAS ORIGINALS BY WALES BONNER.
Morgan wears t-shirt and jacket ADIDAS ORIGINALS BY WALES BONNER.
Kylan wears jacket, shorts, socks and shoes ADIDAS ORIGINALS BY WALES BONNER.
Evan wears jacket and pants ADIDAS ORIGINALS BY WALES BONNER.
The images, much like the clothes themselves, are imbued with a quiet sense of pride—a celebration of Black culture, creativity, and functional design.
