Adidas Sambas took over the wardrobes of many fashion lovers, and you’d see them on pretty much everyone’s feet – but behold, there’s a new trainer that’s come back into the spotlight, about to take over from Sambas
Trends are forever changing and while Adidas’ Sambas are still the hottest trainers this summer – there’s a new It-Girl shoe on the block.
A staple in terrace fashion, the sporty sneaker has plunged back into the spotlight in recent years but really peaked this summer – you can’t go anywhere without spotting those iconic stripes.
The Seventies staple had a renaissance as Gen Z did what they do best and reignited the trend, but now there’s a new Adidas competitor predicted to soon land in every fashion lover’s wardrobe.
Introducing the Adidas SL 72 OG. The new ‘It-Girl’ trainer is described by fashion bible Vogue as the next big thing as celebrity trailblazers have already been spotted wearing them, including the likes of Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and Suki Waterhouse. But why has the Samba obsession moved on so quickly? And are they really over?
The Samba plight wasn’t helped by former prime minister Rishi Sunak who was spotted wearing a pair recently during an interview – much to the dismay of Adidas fans. The ex PM was accused of “runing an eternally cool sneaker” by GQ, while an onslaught of magazines rushed to offer a full list of alternative trainers after Mr Sunak “killed” the coolness of the Sambas.
He even offered a grovelling apology after destroying the Samba street cred, despite admitting he was a “longtime devotee” to Adidas. “I issue a fulsome apology to the Samba community,” he told LBC Radio. “But, in my defence, I would say I have been wearing Adidas trainers including Sambas – and others, in fact for many, many years.” However he has still been wearing them, most recently during his failed election campaign.
If you are resenting ever slipping your Sambas back on like many other fashion lovers across the nation, the SL 72’s might just become your new go-to. However, like many trendy trainers, they’re not actually new. The SL 72’s have been around since 1972 (hence the name) and were originally designed as a running shoe, to commemorate the Munich Olympic games. They soon became Adidas’ “hero” shoe and revolutionised trainers as they’re so light.
Bella Hadid has made it clear she’s a huge fan having been spotted several times out and about in them, and she’s since appeared in a Adidas campaign to mark the 52nd anniversary of the Munich games – and the revival of the shoe.
The model’s stamp of approval likely helped spike interest in the shoe, which for 50 years, was only ever available in blue. However, they now come in a whole host of colours – including metallic silver, projecting them into a modern refresh.
Bella has been seen pairing them (very fittingly) with an Adidas Originals track top and denim shorts, and another time with bootcut jeans and a brown leather jacket, giving an effortless off-duty model vibe.
Model Emily Ratajkowski was also snapped in a pair while shopping in New York. The American model broke her Puma streak with a fresh pair of SL-72s, pairing them with a sports bra, a dark red cardigan, oversized black trousers and the SL-72s in the ‘Semi Green Spark’ colourway.
With over 15.8 million posts on TikTok, it’s fair to say the SL-72s are becoming a viral hit online too. Fashion gurus have been sharing videos on how to style the trainers, with many opting for cool ladiback outfits – think baggy jeans, oversized jackets and skirts.
There are now two versions – the SL 72 OG and the SL 72 RS. The RS stands for ‘re-shaped’ as the shoe has undergone a little makeover, now featuring a thicker midsole which makes them look much chunkier overall. However, they are still lined with gum rubber for grip because, after all, they are still running shoes. Clearly thrilled by the Sambas renaissance, Adidas has revamped another 70s cult trainer, keeping its iconic silhouette but making it trendy once more.
However, it’s not all been plain sailing with the re-vamp, as Bella Hadid has been embroiled in a controversy over the new campaign. The supermodel was the face of their revived SL 72 sneakers collection, which celebrates the 52nd anniversary of the Munich Olympics. However the Games were overshadowed by an attack from a Palestinian militant group, which left 11 Israeli athletes and a German official dead.
Her involvement in the advert sparked fury from both the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Israeli government. Responding to the backlash, Adidas expressed regret for any “upset or distress” caused unintentionally by associating with tragic historical events.
Adidas have since removed Hadid, 27, from their campaign. A spokesperson said: “We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events — though these are completely unintentional — and we apologize for any upset or distress caused. As a result we are revising the remainder of the campaign.”
Hadid, whose father is Palestinian, made headlines when she donated $1million to a relief fund amid the ongoing conflict in the region, according to the BBC. In a statement back in 2017, she expressed her support for Palestine: “The TREATMENT of the Palestinian people is unfair, one-sided and should not be tolerated. I stand with Palestine.”
You can buy SL 72s from the official Adidas website for £80. They’re also available from Size and Office.
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