The return of an embroidered crown

You'll almost certainly have clocked it in an archive photo: an embroidered crown on a sweatshirt, somewhere between the sports changing room and the pavement. That's Respect M.E., the women's line Adidas made with Missy Elliott in the mid-2000s. Around fifteen years on, the pieces are still doing the rounds, and they've barely aged a day.

Three lines, three moods

Respect M.E. came in three very distinct moods. Rythm mixed sport and street codes, with a reworked safari inspiration on well-cut pieces: pocket jackets, wide-leg trousers. Rythm Exclusive played on a black, white and gold contrast, halfway between hip-hop and a more girly register. Bass Line, the most summery of the three, went for punchy prints and lightweight pieces — mini dresses, caps, trainers.

The thread running through it all? A confident sportswear drape and one statement piece capable of carrying the whole silhouette on its own. Which is exactly why these pieces keep turning up on moodboards: they don't need piling with accessories, they already work by themselves.

Young woman in a printed Adidas three-stripe mini dress, trefoil cap and low-top trainers
Rythm reworks safari inspiration on a well-cut statement piece

How to recapture the spirit in 2026

There's no need to chase the archive to get that energy back. At Adidas Originals women, comparable cuts are still on the rails: knitted tracksuits, low-top trainers along the lines of the Samba, Gazelle or Spezial — we never tire of their minimal shape. The move that changes everything: build your outfit around a single strong piece, and keep the rest in matte, plain fabrics.

A well-cut basic lets a statement piece breathe far better than a pile-up of logos, shiny textures or prints all fighting for attention. In practice, it's often the contrast between a piece with character (the safari jacket, the embroidered crown) and a quiet base that makes the look work. One caution, though: if you're aiming to recreate the full head-to-toe look of the era, you'd better already have a solid capsule wardrobe going, otherwise you tip straight into fancy dress.

Inside label of an Adidas sports jacket: composition and care instructions in small print
One strong piece, everything else in matte, plain fabrics

The right fabric check

Before you reach for your card, turn the label over. Recycled polyester carrying the GRS label guarantees a share of recycled fibres; GOTS-certified organic cotton points to controlled farming. Two reference points, not a promise.

Second-hand: the real lead

Respect M.E. pieces are no longer sold in shops: you'll mostly find them second-hand. The trade-off is the unpredictability. Sizes are scarce, and prices soar on the most recognisable models. Take your time going through the photos, asking for flat measurements and checking the seams before you commit.

Young woman examining a vintage Adidas sweatshirt with an embroidered crown on a hanger, in a second-hand shop

A good question to ask yourself: could I wear this piece with at least three things already in my wardrobe? If the answer is no, let it go — however lovely it looks on screen. On the care side, a vintage knitted sweatshirt should be washed cold, inside out, and dried flat. Nothing that stops you living your life.

Budget

On the budget front, expect to pay around £50 to £100 for a new Adidas Originals sweatshirt or tracksuit, and roughly £75 to £100 for a pair of low-top trainers along the lines of the Samba, Gazelle or Spezial. For a vintage Respect M.E. piece, it all depends on rarity: second-hand, you'll often find them for between £35 and £85, and more for the most sought-after models in a good size and condition. The price shifts with the city, the range and how the piece has been looked after; you'll find new pieces in Adidas shops or online, and archive pieces from specialist resellers as well as second-hand platforms.