Photography: Timothy O'Connell

What makes for a good street handball match? We had no clue but linked with NYC photographer Timothy O’ Connell to understand a bit more. Why? adidas Spezial, you guessed it, has its roots in traditional handball. Its street version has unofficially become our new favorite underground sport in the city but let us tell you more.

The shoe was originally released in 1979 and quickly became a favorite amongst Northern-European players. The silhouette’s adoption by casuals was already on in the ‘80s, when sports gear reached an all- time popularity in mainstream fashion. The colorful range and minimalistic design made them perfect for that time and it is no surprise that they are coming back, again and again.

American handball is different from the og version though, and it’s a proper lifestyle. For starters like us, it’s mainly practiced outside sport facilities and on the streets. It showcases the resilience of different communities and it’s a fast game.
We capture it as seen in the Lower East Side. Players meet up and play, always sporting adidas Spezial ofc.