at Asphaltgold

The running boom of the 1970s, which continued in the western world well into the 1980s, not only gave rise to today's global brands, but also opened up the opportunity for the then well-known three stripes to establish new silhouettes. It was in this context that the concept of the running all-rounder of the 1980s from adidas, the ZX, was born . Starting with the ZX 500 in 1984, adidas consistently positioned the new silhouette as a high-performance all-terrain running shoe. The 500was a success and the line was systematically developed further - from the ZX 800 to the ZX 8000, which introduced the innovative Torsion System in 1989.

From the black market to the subculture

The 1980s were not only a time of technical revolutions in footwear, but also a period of profound social change. In East Germany, there was a growing desire for more freedom, which was reflected in individual development and aesthetic diversity. In this context, the ZX became more than just a running shoe. With its futuristic, bright colorways and harsh contrasts, it stood in contrast to many monotonous consumer goods of the East. The shoe looked like something from another world and quickly became a status symbol. The ZX found its way onto the feet of young , style-conscious peoplevia relatives and the black market , and thus onto the streets and into cultural spaces without any traditional advertising. Wearing ZX meant access to something limited - a symbol of change and new beginnings. When the Wall came down in 1989 and adidas officially opened up the East, there was no need to recharge the silhouette. The ZX was already and remained relevant: worn in soccer fan culture as well as in the techno and rave scene of the 1990s, firmly anchored in subcultures and across borders. 

BETWEEN SPORTS FUNCTION & STYLE CONSCIOUSNESS

The ZX became for Europe what the Superstar was for basketball in its early days and what quickly carried it from sport into the urban culture of the USA.On the streets of South London as well as in Berlin in the late 80s and early 90s, if you wore a ZX, you were cool. Originally conceived as a pure performance runner, the ZX 's history laid the foundation for a recipe for success that still characterizesthe sneaker market today: running shoes for athletes, worn on the street, combined with streetwear instead of on the tartan track. This is exactly how today's retro runner has evolved - from a functional sports shoe to an urban street shoe, reinterpreted over decades in countless colors and designs. 

We are proud to continue to celebrate special ZX releases today and bring both new andiconic returning colorways to the community. In November 2025, we celebrated the adidas Consortium drop with AMG - including two exclusive ZX 8 500 colorways, available exclusively at Asphaltgold. Definitely one of our highlights of the past year. 

ADIDAS ZX 8000 SERIES

The history of the ZX is an ongoing process for us. Between archive and present, new perspectives are constantly emerging on a silhouette that could never be pinned down to a single moment. Even though many formative stories have been written, there is still room for new interpretations.

at Asphaltgold

The running boom of the 1970s, which continued in the western world well into the 1980s, not only gave rise to today's global brands, but also opened up the opportunity for the then well-known three stripes to establish new silhouettes. It was in this context that the concept of the running all-rounder of the 1980s from adidas, the ZX, was born . Starting with the ZX 500 in 1984, adidas consistently positioned the new silhouette as a high-performance all-terrain running shoe. The 500was a success and the line was systematically developed further - from the ZX 800 to the ZX 8000, which introduced the innovative Torsion System in 1989.

From the black market to the subculture

The 1980s were not only a time of technical revolutions in footwear, but also a period of profound social change. In East Germany, there was a growing desire for more freedom, which was reflected in individual development and aesthetic diversity. In this context, the ZX became more than just a running shoe. With its futuristic, bright colorways and harsh contrasts, it stood in contrast to many  monotonous consumer goods of the East. The shoe looked like something from another world and quickly became a status symbol. The ZX found its way onto the feet of young , style-conscious peoplevia relatives and the black market , and thus onto the streets and into cultural spaceswithout any traditional advertising.

Wearing ZX meant access to something limited - a symbol of change and new beginnings. When the Wall came down in 1989 and adidas officially opened up the East, there was no need to recharge the silhouette. The ZX was already and remained relevant: worn in soccer fan culture as well as in the techno and rave scene of the 90s, firmly anchored in subcultures and across borders. 

BETWEEN SPORTS FUNCTION & STYLE CONSCIOUSNESS

The ZX became for Europe what the Superstar was for basketball in its early days and what quickly carried it from sport into the urban culture of the USA.On the streets of South London as well as in Berlin in the late 80s and early 90s, if you wore a ZX, you were cool. Originally conceived as a pure performance runner, the ZX 's history laid the foundation for a recipe for success that still characterizesthe sneaker market today: running shoes for athletes, worn on the street, combined with streetwear instead of on the tartan track. This is exactly how today's retro runner has evolved - from a functional sports shoe to an urban street shoe, reinterpreted over decades in countless colors and designs. 

We are proud to continue to celebrate special ZX releases today and bring both new andiconic returning colorways to the community. As recently as November 2025, we celebrated the adidas Consortium drop with AMG - including two exclusive ZX 8 500 colorways, available exclusively at Asphaltgold. Definitely one of our highlights of the past year. 

ADIDAS ZX SERIES

The history of the ZX is an ongoing process for us. Between the archive and the present, new perspectives are constantly emerging on a silhouette that could never be pinned down to a single moment. Even though many formative stories have been written, there is still room for new interpretations.