THE JOURNAL
Illustrations by Mr Ben Lamb
Has British prime minister Mr Rishi Sunak singlehandedly killed off the Samba? We’d argue that adidas’ signature soccer shoe has shown stupendous staying power over the past 75 years. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it still kicking on in another 75 years (here, we’d make a case for Sunak putting more of an effort into those climate targets). And Ms Grace Wales Bonner, who has already done so much to raise the Samba’s stock, is clearly standing by the sneaker. See more on her course correction, plus more reissues and collabs from adidas and Nike, below.
01.
Astro Grabber SP by Nike x BODE
From a football football shoe to an American gridiron football shoe, could this be the passing of the It-shoe baton? While everyone knew the adidas Samba pretty well even before Wales Bonner worked her magic, Ms Emily Bode Aujla has managed to pluck something of a forgotten relic out of Nike’s archives. Hot on the heels of her black leather reworking of the silhouette (which hadn’t been seen since the 1970s), this edition comes with a natural-coloured woven mesh upper. The original’s waffle tread is married to a chunkier midsole, with BODE branding on the tongue and cute coloured charms on the laces. Be quick to grab yours.
02.
Dunk Low Retro “Michigan” by Nike
Following its second life in skateboarding, then as the cult sneaker, with countless collaborations and colourways in between, it can be easy to forget that the Dunk began life as a college basketball shoe. After the 1984 launch of the signature shoe for the NBA’s latest hotshot, a certain Mr Michael Jordan, Nike turned its sights on the future draft intakes with a high-top deliberately designed to serve as a canvas for school colours. The two-tone combination here apes the livery of the Michigan State Spartans (alumni includes Mr Earvin “Magic” Johnson), reimagined in the shoe’s low-top guise.
03.
Campus “Deep Brown” by adidas Originals x Bad Bunny
Another unsung hero of the basketball court that diversified its portfolio after retiring from the sport. This workhorse of the adidas roster got swept up in the rise of hip-hop in the 1980s, then Britpop in the 1990s, so this reworking by musician Bad Bunny doesn’t come from nowhere. What comes as a surprise, perhaps, is that, in the intervening years, the shoe seems to have bulked up. On that note, the rich chocolatey tones of the suede upper come paired with a bulbous marshmallowy midsole and collar. This chunky reinterpretation includes pink lettering and San Benito branding on the tongue and insole.
04.
Samba by adidas Originals x Wales Bonner
As touched on above, the Samba owes much of its recent buzz to south London’s own Grace Wales Bonner. The Central Saint Martins-educated designer’s run of collections in tandem with adidas have added a colourful dimension to elevated sportswear. And of all the archival pieces given a new lease of life, the iconic 75-year-old football shoe is undeniably the star turn. This latest edition features the familiar shaggy suede trims, with hefty two-tone laces and contrast stitching turned into a USP.
05.
Dunk Low Premium “Medium Curry” by Nike
What sounds like an unimaginative order in an Indian restaurant is actually a delicately pleasing colourway for the Dunk. The titular Medium Curry shade is a warm, fuzzy brown overlaid to contrast against a rich, creamy Sail base with Fossil-toned detailing – heel tab and Swoosh – sitting somewhere between the two. A handsome reworking of the Nike shoe, forged in premium materials.