Hermann Deininger, adidas global brand creative director, comments: "The worldwide success of the collection continues to exceed our expectations. adidas by Stella McCartney obviously met a need in the marketplace. We are very pleased to continue this inspirational partnership!"
The partnership was launched with a spring/summer collection in February 2005, debuting in an exclusive distribution network of limited doors mainly in the US and Japan. Since then, the number of doors has risen to over 400 worldwide in 40 countries, supporting triple-digit growth in sales. Wedneday saw the launch of the new fall/winter '06 collection in Aspen,Colorado, introducing Wintersports as a new category.
Part of the adidas Sport Performance division, adidas by Stella McCartney fuses performance with style by offering women functional products in running, gym, swim and, as of spring/summer 2006, a tennis line. Overall, the line features cutting-edge technologies in both footwear and apparel, such as the lightest a³ heel-to-toe cushioning system launched in this season's Flyride running shoe.
In January 2006, rising tennis star Maria Kirilenko was introduced as the first professional athlete to compete dressed in the range.
