ADIDAS Y-3 AND VIRGIN GALACTIC REIMAGINE SPACE APPAREL
Spaceport America in New Mexico provided the backdrop for the launch of a new partnership for Virgin Galactic with Y-3 for the design and production of a complete range of garments required for commercial spaceflight. Under the agreement with Virgin Galactic, Y-3 will be responsible for everything from flight-suits for our future astronauts and pilots to garments worn by their operations, maintenance teams and hosting staff.
Y-3 is the collaboration between Japanese design guru Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas, which for more than 10 years has been at the forefront of the high-end sportswear industry. Virgin Galactic believes that Y-3 has the technical know-how and an approach to style which emphasizes the use of advanced fabrics, special techniques and bespoke specifications to ensure fit, comfort and performance.
“Our evolution into a fully-functioning spaceline presents unprecedented opportunities to create original designs in support of our unique customer experience,” said Virgin Galactic head of design Adam Wells. “Together with the incredibly talented team at Y-3, we will explore the potential to create innovative apparel and accessories – both for our staff and for our pioneering customers – that is appropriately functional and fit-for-purpose, is thoughtfully and elegantly crafted, and is fulfilling and fun to wear and use. Our design teams’ shared values will doubtlessly result in the creation of some extraordinary, special and highly treasured products, and we look forward to sharing their development stories as Virgin Galactic steps closer to commercial operations.”
