The Diadora Cross Rainy Trainer is the Ultimate Classic 'Fregio' Runner
Following the re-release of the original Cross silhouette from the 1970s, Diadora are back with some classic Fregio branding & the introduction of the Cross Rainy trainer.
As avid trainer fans you just can't really beat an archive re-release. It's in the archive where the magic really happens for classic Italian sportswear brands like Diadora. As new silhouettes get hyped up, never to be seen again, it's the archive stuff from the golden era of running trainers that we just keep "lapping" up year after year. There's a certain aesthetic about the 1970s running trainer that still holds its own today in a footwear world that has seen everything over the last 50 years from air bubbles in soles to internal inflation mechanisms in tongues. As trainers became all the rage thanks to athlete endorsements & the whole running boom of the 1970s, a "casual" fuse was lit that would start a whole new trend in which people wore athletic shoes for errands & everyday-wear. It's this magical era of running silhouettes that gave birth to classic styles like the Diadora Cross trainer which now arrives in an updated 'Rainy' version for 2026.
Above: The Diadora Cross Rainy trainers in posy green now available from 80s Casual Classics.
Following on from the huge success of the Equipe trainer from 1975, which was the first silhouette to feature the Italian sportswear brands iconic Fregio logo, the Cross silhouette was first released in 1976 at the height of the running trainer revolution of the late 1970s. The classic runner featured a toughened PU outsole with a nylon weave upper as well as the signature t-toe detailing to the front. Way ahead of the curve, the Cross trainer would "set the pace" for Diadora's dominance on the running trainer world with endorsement deals with Seb Coe in the 1980s as well as the introduction of their legendary N. series in the early 90s. Giving a nod to the original design of the Diadora Cross trainer, the iconic Italian sportswear brand has now introduced an updated version of the classic 70's runner.
Above: The Diadora Cross Rainy trainers in ensign blue now available from 80s Casual Classics.
Introduced in a selection of seasonal colourways the Diadora Cross Rainy trainer is probably just about as good as it gets when it comes to a classic retro runner. Highlights include mesh uppers with cow suede overlays & T-toe detailing to the front. The extra grippy gum rubber outsole gives a nod to the original Cross silhouette from 1976 as well as the front bumper sole design. Finished off with an EVA midsole for all day comfort & classic 'fregio' branding to the sidewalls, the Cross trainer is the ultimate in retro kerb appeal. Shop the very latest Diadora trainer releases now at 80s Casual Classics via the links.