The Adidas Sambas are one of the many “it” shoes of the season. They have been all over Pinterest,
Instagram, and I’ve even seen them all over Temple’s campus. Seeing that the shoes have made it from the Pinterest fashion world to the real one, peaked my curiosity into their history.
They were originally designed in 1949 to help a German team on ice and with snowy pitches by the Adidas founder, Adi Dassler. However they made their debut at the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The original version was a high top that used kangaroo leather and a gum sole to provide better traction. Adidas wanted the shoe to succeed in Brazil so they named it Samba, taking inspiration from
the Brazilian music genre and dance.
As time went on the shoe was modified and adjusted until arriving at the version we see styled and used today. In the 1970’s the shoe had become a favorite among indoor soccer players due to its grip and durable design. Years later in the 1990s, the shoe gained popularity with the skateboarding community for the same reasons. This led to a design that focused on the needs of skateboarders.
Timeline image via Adidas.com
Skateboarder image via Adidas.com
It currently has made its way into the world of fashion because of its sleek design, in addition to its traction and durability of course. Celebrities like Kendall Jenner, ASAP Rocky, Haily Beiber, and
Bella Hadid have also been spotted wearing the shoe recently, fueling its popularity. Collaborations have also helped make it a popular choice among fashion lovers. The Sambas have had collaborations with Wales Bonner, Gucci, and Disney among others. The iconic silver pair of Adidas Sambas came from the collaboration with Wales Bonner and were released on June 9, 2023. Wales
Bonners also designed the cheetah print version which was released on November 8, 2023. The collaborations have helped reimage the sneaker and introduce it to new audiences.
Sneaker images via StockX.com
Images of Celebrities in Sambas via GQ.com
The Samba has been the longest running shoe in existence for Adidas, and with
its sudden resurgence I believe it will continue to evolve. The shoe has a versatility that
not many others have been able to replicate. I recently just purchased a pair for myself.
I got the black original Samba OGs to style for the spring, although I debated making
the purchase for months. I wanted to be sure I was buying the shoes because I liked
them and because they made sense in my closet. I’ve seen some discourse online
about how their popularity is dying down. Despite these comments I think many will
continue to purchase them because of the way they have withstood the test of time, can
be paired with so much, and have an affordable price tag.
Sources:
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