HHV Portraits with adidas
Paris Fashion Week
HHV Portraits show members of our community dressed and styled by themselves to show their true character. From leather footwear to sneakers and slip-ons, hoodies to mohair and parkas, our community is dressed to impress. Working in fashion, finance or freelancing, we will highlight different individuals monthly and share the versatility our community has through their thoughts and feelings about where they are, what they are wearing, and much more…
To kick off this project we took to the streets of Paris during fashion week with adidas and got talking to our community.
We kept it plain and simple and asked our community the following 5 questions…
Massimo Iannone
I am Massimo Iannone, originally from West Germany, and I have been living in Berlin for quite some time. I take photos, write, and engage in everything related to creative work. I’m interested in many things, but mostly music, cars, fashion, outdoor activities, and food. These are the things that accompany me every day – starting with the music I listen to on the record player in the morning, to breakfast, for which I take at least an hour to make sure everything is just right. I embody all of this with @withouttendency, a platform that is accessible to everyone.
What inspires you to be you and dress as you do? Which music, creatives and places do you draw inspiration from?
The way I dress is influenced by both my past and present. I prefer wearing calm and timeless clothing but set accents through materials and cuts. If I go for something louder, I choose one of my band shirts or old graphic tees. Since I spend a lot of time outdoors in my free time, I like to combine something functional with something formal. For example, a Gore-Tex rain jacket over a shirt with a cardigan and leather boots. But also the other way around: a functional sneaker paired with something more classic. The main thing is that it’s comfortable and weather-resistant.
I grew up with a lot of music that my father played for us every day. It was always the same cassettes in the car, but somehow we never got enough of them. My father mostly played songs by Bob Dylan, Guns N’ Roses, or Elvis Presley – lots of rock. Occasionally, there was something quieter, like Pink Floyd. There was one cassette I particularly loved: „Year of the Cat“ by Al Stewart. If there was no music, my father would try to find the Italian football station, which could take forever and was really annoying. The car was something very special to us and responsible for many adventures. Several times a year, we would drive to Naples – a 16-hour journey with our Fiat 600. I loved it, especially when we drove through South Tyrol or Switzerland and stopped at the next Autogrill. That’s one of the reasons why I still enjoy driving to South Tyrol by car today and feel very connected to the mountains and the landscape.
What brings you to Paris? Outside of PFW is there anything you want to see or do… or even better that you recommend for others?
Like most people, I’m curious about what brands have to offer for the upcoming seasons. Some brands are only known through social media and are appearing in Paris for the first time, which I find very interesting. However, that’s not the only thing that draws me to Paris. It’s like a reunion with people you care about and don’t see very often. You go out to eat, drink coffee, visit a store or two, and exchange ideas on various topics. This is very important and inspiring to me. I also enjoy spending time in cafés and restaurants, trying out the menu, and observing the surroundings – it’s very calming.
Some people say their choice of footwear can tell you a lot about a person, why have you picked the adidas shoes you are currently wearing?
As I mentioned before, my past and present play a big role in how I dress, along with functionality and timelessness. The Adidas Raven fulfills all these aspects – from the color scheme, which reminds me of the Adidas Ozweego Night Marine by Raf Simons, to the non-slip sole and functional upper.
Moving on from footwear, what is your favourite piece right now and why? (Can be anything from accessories to outerwear)
Recently, I’ve been mostly wearing a brown quarter zip, which is really easy to wear and works with everything. The wide but cropped cut looks sporty yet elegant. Handmade in South Tyrol from high-quality wool, it’s something truly special. I love the simplicity of the brand.
This may not have much to do with fashion, but I recently found an owl bird whistle, handcrafted from beechwood, which I find visually beautiful and fun to use.
Whats next… do you have your eyes on a creative, talent or certain piece that you see taking off in 2025?
This is not an easy question. There are so many talented and creative people with great potential. Running will remain a big trend for a while and is a major movement we’ve been following for years. However, I’m pretty sure that climbing sports – such as bouldering or mountaineering – will play a bigger role in the future. adidas continues to innovate in these areas, pushing performance and style forward.
Beyond fashion, I also see a growing interest in Hi-Fi sound systems, especially those from the 80s and 90s. Some cafés are now equipped with beautiful Hi-Fi systems that also add a certain aesthetic. Hopefully, these systems are professionally used and not just acquired for status. In general, items from the late 90s and early 2000s are becoming increasingly popular among the younger generation.
Peter Obradovic
Hi, my name is Peter, and I’m currently living in Berlin. I do everything that involves storytelling. My passion is telling the stories of other talented people and their work. When I’m not doing that, I’m probably in the kitchen trying out new recipes or researching one of the many sociocultural or political topics that interest me.
What inspires you to be you and dress as you do? Which music, creatives and places do you draw inspiration from?
Like most of us, I draw inspiration from various fields, but my latest big source of inspiration is my younger sister, who is an amazing person and one of the most creative people I know. Her energy really inspires me.
What brings you to Paris? Outside of PFW is there anything you want to see or do… or even better that you recommend for others?
I’m here with Beinghunted. for the showroom of The GORE-TEX Brand. For the first time in my (fairly young) fashion week career, I told myself to stay a couple of days longer and just enjoy the French joie de vivre. I’m mostly looking forward to seeing my friends from all over the world.
Some people say their choice of footwear can tell you a lot about a person, why have you picked the adidas shoes you are currently wearing?
Recently, I’ve been a big fan of more traditional silhouettes. The adidas Japan I’m wearing can complement many different outfits, which is why I chose to wear it today.
Moving on from footwear, what is your favourite piece right now and why? (Can be anything from accessories to outerwear)
My favourite piece at the moment is a pair of denim jeans I bought while living in Tokyo last year. I rarely buy new clothes these days, but this handmade pair is a little souvenir I got for myself.
Whats next… do you have your eyes on a creative, talent or certain piece that you see taking off in 2025?
I’m honestly just really excited to see all my friends in the creative industries (and beyond) thriving and taking off. At our age, things still change so much that you never know what’s next. Besides that, I’m curious to see if classic menswear will make a big return.
Iain Grainger
Name is Iain Grainger, I am from Edinburgh in Scotland, I run an agency called Spaces which helps brands find their space and I help show their work to new eyes. When I am not working I am researching, trying to go to Japan and finding new brands to share with people.
What inspires you to be you and dress as you do? Which music, creatives and places do you draw inspiration from?
Mainly, I am inspired by Japan, my friends who create wonderful things and good people. Musically I listen to a lot of different styles but hardcore / punk is my base that has given me great values that I live my life by.
What brings you to Paris? Outside of PFW is there anything you want to see or do… or even better that you recommend for others?
I am here as my showroom is open, I have appointments with other brands to discuss working together and share the brands on Spaces agency to new people who will enjoy what they do. To be honest, I barely have time to eat while I am here let alone do anything else ! But always looking for new vegetarian spots in Paris.
Some people say their choice of footwear can tell you a lot about a person, why have you picked the adidas shoes you are currently wearing?
I am looking to get outside more and more, I chose this style to use to facilitate that.
Moving on from footwear, what is your favourite piece right now and why? (Can be anything from accessories to outerwear)
Deciding my favourite piece is really hard as I could write a long list for the amount of things I am enjoying.
Whats next… do you have your eyes on a creative, talent or certain piece that you see taking off in 2025?
Next, more research and exposing good things to good people. Musically, I am excited to see what the band High Vis will do next.
