The adidas Samba OG
What gives a sneaker social capital? Is it collaboration? Who’s wearing it? What they’re wearing it with? What Tik Tok trends dictate? Or does it come down to its construction? On the flip side, people crave a sense of individuality, something that is easy to wear, accessible and functional, and a shoe that can be worn over a long period of time. Put these factors onto a very complex Venn Diagram and you’ll see the adidas Samba OG at the centre of it all.
Originally introduced in the 1950s as a football shoe, the adidas Samba quickly transcended its sporting origins and evolved into a fashion staple. The sneaker's clean and understated design, featuring a low-profile silhouette, premium leather upper, and the distinctive three stripes branding, all atop a rubber sole, contributed to its widespread appeal as simple yet impactful.
Even with its 147 million views on Tik Tok and its 363% increase in popularity in 2023 (according to Google Search data), the Samba was in no way an unpopular sneaker before its massive resurgence. All over the internet you’ll find the sneaker to be a cult-classic for footballers of the 70s, 80s to present day, to the skate scene of the 90s, to merely a wardrobe staple for OG adidas fans- the shoe has always been around.
The sneakers place in the spotlight didn’t happen overnight though. The Samba’s were put back on our radar in 2020 with its partnership with UK designer, Wales Bonner and has since continued its tour of the collaborative world. This collab saw the shoe elevated with crochet detailing on new tonal colourways, and ever since has been a constant feature on mood boards and resale platforms. adidas has worked with A-List celebrities like Jonah Hill to create a rendition of the Samba as well as understated favourites like Emily Oberg’s brand Sporty & Rich. However, adidas’ latest collab has definitely upped the ranks of the football shoe by entering the realm of luxury fashion through its Kith & Clarks partnership. This only further solidified the football shoes reputation as a sneaker that appeals to everyone, everywhere.
We are currently at a point in our fashion cycle where everything is a trend, which also leaves more room for people’s individual sense of style to be explored. Of course, we owe a lot of this to icons like Bella Hadid whose outfits are the most emulated out of any celebrity, or Frank Ocean who always looks understatedly stylish. The range of celebrities who opt to wear the sneaker added to the span of looks that it goes with, makes the Samba the perfect canvas. It fits into almost every “aesthetic” yet also appeals to those who don’t follow trends at all and is oftentimes seen worn by people of all ages. Whether it be the skater aesthetic, blokecore, the “elevated basic”, scuffed up, a bold colourway or just worn by a dad going to the shops, the Samba blends seamlessly into any outfit while still maintaining an effortlessly cool factor.
It is undeniable that the true beauty of the adidas Samba lies in its simplicity. It has proven time and again that it is a sneaker that will adapt and transform as the world of fashion and football changes, yet still remain as a consistent favourite.
The adidas Samba OG's drop on Saturday, the 20th of May!
Both colourways available in-store and online for R1799 in UK7-UK11.
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