Miss Claire Sullivan on Blending Couture Fantasy With adidas Sport Performance
We took a trip to the New York couturier’s studio to get an insider’s look at her creative process and design language as she reimagines the adidas ADIZERO EVO SL Zip for high fashion.
New York’s favorite couturier is blending performance footwear with high fashion and theatrical style. Miss Claire Sullivan, the independent NYC-based atelier known for cultivating pure, embodied joy and volume-heavy aesthetics, has teamed up with adidas to style the sleek, newly released ADIZERO EVO SL Zip. Following the designer’s standout feature in the 2025 adidas Running ‘Always in Motion’ campaign, this latest creative intersection takes the brand’s fast-culture running DNA to a new, elevated and fashion-forward dimension.
Characterized by expertly draped, voluminous fabrics with a healthy dose of dramatic flair, the Miss Claire Sullivan universe beautifully disrupts the sporty nature of the shoe. Having already built a cult following and dressing cultural icons like Lady Gaga, Addison Rae, Clairo and Rosalia, Sullivan proves that performance gear belongs in the couture lexicon. By contrasting the aerodynamic, synthetic lines of the EVO SL Zip with her signature high-femme silhouettes, she effortlessly bridges the gap between avant-garde performance and theatrical NYC edge.
We caught up with Sullivan in her studio to talk about her design language, how she comes up with new creations and the methods to her creative process. Keep scrolling to read the full interview.
Can you tell us about your practice and who you are as a designer?
As a designer, I’m interested in having fun. I want my clients who wear the clothes to be having fun, and I want those witnessing the wearer to be having fun. Couture is storytelling, and in the simplest form, the clothing I make is clothing that tells a story.
Can you talk about the couture, handmade nature of your work? Why is it so important for everything to be bespoke?
Everything we make in our studio is completely bespoke. Every element is custom to the client, not just in the way that it’s tailored to them, but also in the way that it’s tailored to the moment.
One of my favorite parts of creating couture garments is the process. I find so much beauty in the care and intention that goes into each piece. So often in fashion today, we see people trying to make garments as quickly as possible and push out as much as possible. There’s something special about going back to how it used to be done, which is made to measure to the client. The intention behind my work is to work slowly, and to have that craft be back in the forefront of the practice. This project brings together the slow process of working on couture with the feeling of being fast on your feet.
Tell us about the inspiration behind this adidas piece and how it came to be.
The inspiration behind this adidas piece was definitely the shoe, the ADIZERO EVO SL Zip. I love that the shoe has so many components, but it actually feels seamless, and I really wanted to bring that energy into this look.
I love the three diagonal stripes across the shoe, and I wanted to bring that element into the look. I also played with The Three Stripes in other places to have a bit of fun. You see the stripes on the back of the train trailing off, and then you have a couple of them on the side of the tutu. The main event of the look is these stripes that go across the body, which was meant to mimic the shoe. We sourced an extra-large zipper, because I was inspired by the zipper on the shoe, and I wanted to incorporate the lacing that’s hidden underneath, as well.
Can you walk us through some of the materials and other details of the gown?
Tutus are a classic Miss Claire Sullivan staple and we have a lot of beautiful, lightweight tulle in this. I love how you feel like you’re floating when wearing the shoe, and I wanted to convey that throughout the look, as well.
How did you maintain a performance element that feels endemic to adidas? How do performance and couture intersect?
I was looking at a lot of ’90s running photos. I wanted to think about what would feel efficient to wear while training, but also embody a bit of drama.
Performance and couture intersect in the way they both need to be high functioning. So much consideration goes into every detail in both categories. Blending the two brings in a fantasy from the couture side, while the sport grounds it in reality. Those two playing with each other makes a strong story.
As a designer playing around with something as iconic as The Three Stripes, what was that experience like?
It was so fun, because when else am I going to have the opportunity to play with The Three Stripes? I love when you’re able to play with brand identity in that way and put your own spin on it. You get to think outside the box, maybe differently from how the brand would think about it.
Can you talk about your relationship with adidas Running and how this project came about?
I worked with adidas last year when we shot the original ADIZERO EVO SL, and it was such a fun project. We thought, why not take it one step further and work on making a look together?
How does performance and sport weave into your personal life and creative practice?
Performance weaves into my life in many ways. I train six days a week. I run, I do resistance training and I also dance. I love to dance — not professionally, but I go out and dance any chance that I get. I also think of performance as a way of storytelling. I dress so many performers, so it’s a huge part of my work.
What is the ultimate story or narrative that you want this dress to evoke?
So much of my work comes from the little girl inside me who wants to play dress up. I think that energy is inside of us, whether it means somebody playing dress up or somebody just embracing their inner child. That is the story I want to tell.
The ADIZERO EVO SL Zip is available to purchase now on the adidas website and select retailers.
