A NEW trainer released by sportswear giants Adidas, which pays tribute to the Lancashire upbringing of its designer, has been named after a Bolton landmark.

The Adidas Winterhill SPZL was created by Darwen-born Gary Aspden who cites his Red Rose heritage as one of the main inspirations behind his work.

The footwear is the latest in a series of collectable designs by Gary including the limited edition Blackburn SPZL and Hoddlesden SPZL with the latest model taking its name from 1,496 ft peak that overlooks Bolton.

Gary said: “The first iteration of the Winterhill SPZL were successfully released in 2017 and sold out quickly. The shoes were a new hybrid that took inspiration from Adidas’s rich history in outdoor footwear and took design cues from the Reinhold Messner signature mountain boot.

“Retaining the distinctive colour blocking in the midsole this latest version uses a different colourway, new materials and resurrects the adi-tex technology with the metal adi-tex branding. The addition of adi-tex into the build makes them water resistant and season appropriate.”

The release of the trainer coincides with a new exhibition that celebrates the training shoe’s role in the cultural expression of the 1980s from the football terraces to the dancefloor in Blackburn and elsewhere.

Gary will bring 1,000 of his own and other collectors’ shoes to The Cotton Exchange with the display being one of the highlights of the first British Textile Biennial in Blackburn from October 4 to 20.

He said: “I grew up in Darwen and spent most of my formative years in Blackburn. The experiences of my upbringing and youth have always been a source of inspiration for the Adidas SPZL range that I design and curate. The creative team who work on Spezial are all from the area so getting involved with the British Textile Biennal seemed a perfect fit.”

A full programme of events including gigs, talks and screenings will take place within the exhibition space, with all proceeds going to the Nightsafe charity.

The Adidas Winterhill SPZL are released on October 11.