MRBAILEY x Adidas Originals “OZLUCENT” Friends and Family | Size 9

Sotheby’s is proud to present the MRBAILEY x Adidas Originals "OZLUCENT". Limited to just 60 pairs, this friends and family exclusive, comes directly from the archive of MRBAILEY.  

The OZLUCENT, presented by MRBAILEY and adidas Originals, is a concept model inspired by the lifecycle of the Aurelia Aurita, colloquially known as the ‘moon jellyfish’ and serves as the inaugural concept model of the OZMORPHIS series. The shoe takes its design cues from three phases of the Aurelia lifecycle: the Polyp, Ephyra, and Medusa. The Polyp, essentially a plant-like structure, embeds itself into the ocean floor and gradually segments upwards, creating clones of itself until what is known as the Ephyra breaks off and becomes a juvenile jellyfish. The tentacled lifeform and its distinct “Y” shaped lappets (arms) are 95% water, feeds on a diet of plankton, and eventually grows into a Medusa (a fully formed, adult jellyfish) which can grow up to two feet in width. The Ozlucent represents the earliest stage in the OZMORPHIS development established by MRBAILEY and adidas Originals – conceptual, energetic, and comprised of the raw design technologies that will define the future models in the series. Informed by nature, shaped by fantasy. Evolutionary engineering reconsidered for the urban sprawl. From the ocean floor to concrete slabs.

Combining a biomimetic design ethos with intricate construction technology MRBAILEY has encouraged nature and technology to work in collaboration and created a shoe that has its heels dug firmly in the future. The rare opportunity to create new tooling exclusively for this model means that the shoe has been designed from the ground up and has provided the perfect opportunity to create the most conceptual model of the collection. The OZLUCENT features a cushioned AdiPLUS midsole and neoprene inner sock encased between a rubber outsole and a complex polyurethane skeletal upper. The model features an incredibly complicated protective structure that uses three unique molds to create the upper alone, wrapping itself around the entirety of the shoe like the oral arm of a jellyfish to protect the maximal AdiPLUS sole unit. The underside of the outsole features three graphics that represent the 3 stages of Aurelia Aurita that inspired the shoe – the one on the heel represents the Polyp, the Ephyra on the center, and the Medusa on the heel. 

Staying true to his personal design ethos MRBAILEY has meticulously designed every aspect of the Ozlucent experience, making sure that the wearer is submerged from the moment they accept their delivery. Rather than simply presenting these shoes in a box, they are encased in an inflated amniotic sac created using sugarcane and cellulose which sits inside a custom-grown mycelium casing that has been grown around the sac to form another protective layer. Even the shipping unit has been designed to mimic the pattern on the hood of the jellyfish, a touch that ensures the consumer is immersed in the fantasy at every stage of their experience with the OZLUCENT, from delivery to foot.

The exaggerated features of the shoe push the fantasy elements of the project into reality. These shoes weren’t designed on land - they were designed in a research facility deep underwater to bridge the gap between marine biology and manmade technologies, and that’s exactly what they look like. The OZLUCENT exists somewhere between fantasy and reality and marks the conceptual opening in MRBAILEY and adidas Originals’ creative partnership, unlike any other collaboration before. 

MRBAILEY x adidas Originals OZLUCENT. 

100% of the Hammer Price will be remitted to ConceptKicks, which has pledged a portion of its proceeds to charitable organizations. The Buyer’s Premium and Overhead Premium will be retained by Sotheby’s. No portion of the purchase price is tax-deductible.