Adidas Is Putting Shoe Charms on the Classic Samba Sneaker

The Adidas Samba family keeps on growing, and can anyone really blame the athletic footwear brand? From animal prints and cracked textures to zipper adornments and a “101 Dalmatians” collaboration, the 2023 FNAA Shoe of the Year continues to easily adopt new aesthetics. And while the Samba madness may not be quite as hot as it once was, the timeless sneaker remains relevant.

To keep the Samba current, Adidas has given the model’s long-tongue (LT) variation a glitzy makeover complete with lace, ribbon, pearls and gold trinkets. It’s a look that arrives right on time, as charm-laden footwear is piggybacking off of the personalized “Jane Birkinifying” bag trend that’s fueled Labubu mania. Though these Sambas aren’t equipped with plush figurines, the included adornments are surely enough to make it stand out from a standard pair.

Adidas kept the colors restrained on this pair, melding a Core Black/Clear Pink/Bliss Pink combination with a gum rubber sole. The majority of the shoe is a black leather, while the Samba’s signature t-toe overlay uses suede. A frilly pink lace material fills in the three stripes and heel tab, while thick pink ribbon laces replace the shoe’s traditionally thin cotton look. The real fun begins with the removable charms affixed atop the shoelaces, which includes a string of pearls, a heart-shaped pearl encased in gold and an Adidas Trefoil-adorned gold dubrae.

During its annual stockholders meeting in May, Adidas announced it had stopped sourcing kangaroo skins for footwear. The leathers were used on the brand’s soccer cleats for years, but CEO Bjørn Gulden stated that Adidas had already ceased use of the material for several months. Competitor brands including Diadora, New Balance, Nike and Puma have also pledged to no longer use kangaroo skins.

Whether wearers want to get creative by adding and removing charms or simply wearing the pair as-is out of the box, this new Adidas Samba provides a bevy of options. Retail pricing has not yet been confirmed, but the sneaker, which has a style code of KJ6086, is expected to be released exclusively in women’s sizing in October.