You’ve seen them everywhere — in collaborations with some of the hottest brands today such as Humanrace, Palace and JJJJound, and on celebrities like Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Jonah Hill and A$AP Rocky, just to name a few. Over the past few years, the adidas Samba has risen beyond cult status, becoming an icon for millennials and Gen Z alike.
Originally created as an indoor football shoe, the Samba — ever since its inception in the late 1940s — has become a cultural icon as it made its return along with the resurgence of the Y2K aesthetic. It made its way from icy football pitches to runways and fashion campaigns, appearing in some of the most sought-after collaborations.
Naturally, the increasing number of collaborations helped Samba become the go-to sneaker in the past few years, appearing multiple times on the feet of literally everyone, from fashion-forward celebrities to your favorite social media influencers.
Below, we’ve gathered some fun facts about the adidas Samba, taking a closer look at how and why the silhouette has become what it is today.
1. The Samba was initially created in 1949 for footballers.
Before the 1950s, most soccer boots lacked grip, which was why footballers needed innovative shoes that would allow them to play on icy playing grounds. The Samba was created with the purpose of playing soccer on frozen pitches — the first-ever iteration sporting kangaroo leather on the upper along with a gum outsole for traction.
What's interesting about the Samba is that while it was designed for icy pitches — more common in European regions where it snows — the sneaker was released in 1950 just in time for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil that took place during the peak summer season.
adidas believed that the World Cup would be the perfect time to introduce a new shoe, hence taking upon the challenge of debuting a football boot for the winter during the summertime. As a result, the shoe was named "Samba" after the Brazilian dance and music genre, to highlight the host country of the World Cup.
2. The Samba is the longest-running adidas shoe to ever exist. It's also the brand's second best-selling sneakers of all time.
Created by the footwear giant's founder Adi Dassler himself, the Samba is the longest-running adidas sneaker to date. Over the past seven decades, the silhouette has gone from its football-focused design all the way to its current lifestyle design loved by many. Following its initial design, the Samba evolved to cater to a wider range of sports, such as futsal in the '70s, followed by skateboarding in the '90s.
In addition to being the longest-running adidas shoe, the Samba is also the company's second best-selling sneaker of all time, following the Stan Smith.
3. The sneaker evolved into a variety of iterations to cater to different sports and subcultures.
While the Samba was originally born to satisfy the needs of soccer players, the design gained traction in the wider world of sneakers and sports. To this day, the shoe can be seen on indoor football courts and in futsal games, while the Velosamba was specially created for cycling. The sneaker also has a version dedicated to handball.
In the 1990s, skateboarders discovered the Samba, later making the kicks one of the most prominent in skate culture. Naturally, adidas developed a skate-focused Samba in 2006 called the Busenitz, named after the skater Dennis Busenitz.
4. The Samba began making its return in 2020 with — surprise — a wide range of collaborations.
Like any other popular sneaker model, the Samba has appeared in multiple collaborations over the years. The silhouette first began making its return with its Wales Bonner collaboration in 2020, leading to a spike in the demand for the kicks. The shoe made it to Lyst's list of the hottest products of 2022 as it became one of the most sought-after shoes, dominating social media feeds.
More notable collaborations include Pharrell Williams' Humanrace line, which first emerged in November 2022 with an elongated tongue. The partnership continued with color-themed iterations with options ranging from lilac purple to striking red.
Aside from the Humanrace and Wales Bonner collabs, the Samba was highlighted in adidas' releases with the likes of Palace, JJJJound, Pleasures and Jason Dill.
5. Here’s how celebrities are styling them.
A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Bella Hadid and Kaia Gerber are just a few of the celebrities that have been seen sporting the Samba. Thanks to its versatility, the shoe can be worn in casual, skate-inspired looks as well as more elevated dressing with classic garments such as leather jackets and suede coats.