Adidas unveils air-conditioned clothing in the middle of a heatwave

Paris Fashion Week was the stage for a presentation as spectacular as it was unexpected. In the midst of a heatwave, Adidas and designer Rick Owens unveiled a collection incorporating a cooling system directly into the garments. This innovation quickly garnered attention on social media.

A technology inspired by Japan

Presented at Rick Owens' Spring/Summer 2027 show, the collection is distinguished by its oversized jackets and tracksuits. This unusual silhouette is actually created by an integrated ventilation system, complemented by a cooling vest designed to maintain a more bearable body temperature. The models thus walked the runway in XXL puffer jackets despite the heat, without suffering the effects of the high temperatures.

This technology is inspired by "fan jackets," widely used in Japan by workers who work outdoors during the summer. Adidas has adapted it to the world of fashion while leveraging its expertise in sports. The sportswear company already uses cooling vests to aid the recovery of some of its national football teams.

A collaboration designed for 2027

Beyond the splash at Fashion Week, this presentation primarily paves the way for a commercial collaboration between Adidas and Rick Owens. The two brands are planning to release a high-performance, affordable running shoe in 2027, although no price has yet been announced.

The fashion show, organized starting at 10 a.m. around the Palais de Tokyo to avoid the worst temperatures, also illustrates the evolving concerns of the fashion industry. Faced with increasingly frequent heat waves, thermal comfort is gradually becoming a new driver of innovation, on par with design and performance.