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Adidas Jumps on the Latest Footwear Trend to Reignite Its Most Iconic Shoe

Just in time for summer, this new iteration might actually catch on.

Close-up of white Adidas sneaker with brown suede stripes, white laces, mesh panels, and gum sole.Adidas
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Ethan Brehm

By Ethan Brehm

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The Samba never really goes out of fashion, circling back at least once a decade since Adidas debuted them as a football shoe in the ‘50s. 

While we’re currently in a “down” period for the Samba, the streetwear staple is still easily one of the most ubiquitous sneakers in the world. This is owed, in part, to the fact that the kicks have been able to evolve without ever losing their core visual identity. In other words, the Sambas from the ‘80s look strikingly similar to modern interpretations.

White and brown Adidas Samba sneaker with woven upper and gum sole, shown from front side angle.
Adidas cuts out the heel of its iconic Samba for an entirely new look.
Adidas

This is why whenever Adidas decides to put a spin on the formula, everyone takes notice. Take, for instance, the Samba Jane ballet slippers last year or the long-tongued Wales Bonner collabs that put the shoe into fashion territory. 

However, this latest iteration of the Samba might catch on — and get put on — easier than most.

Close-up of the heel area of a white sneaker with brown suede accents and a translucent textured rubber sole.
With the Samba trend ebbing at the moment, these new mules might bring the back into fashion again.
Adidas

Mule log

With the rise of comfort-driven fashion, especially since the Pandemic, mules and slides have become more popular than ever. But with that ascendancy, consumers wanted slip-ons that are actually comfortable for going outside the house.

That’s why we’ve seen big turnarounds for the likes of Crocs and Birkenstocks. Likewise, major footwear brands have made slip-on versions of classic silhouettes. Nike has done this plenty, such as with the Air Jordan 1 Golf Mule or Foamposite-based Clogposite, along with brand-new models like the Calm and Mind 001. 

White and brown mesh slip-on sneaker with gum sole and three brown suede stripes on the side.
Slip-ons have been incredibly popular since the Pandemic, and these should offer a more casual option for fans.
Adidas

Adidas has dabbled a bit as well, with the Classic Campus ‘80 and Adimule models in recent years. Now, that mindset is being transposed to arguably the brand’s most iconic silhouette ever.

Blue Adidas Samba mule sneaker with white laces, woven white stripes, and gum sole.
This drop includes three colorways, including the indigo and beige you see above.
Adidas

Slip-on Sambas

Just in time for the summer, the Samba Mule arrives in three new colorways to go along with the monochromatic Crew White announced back in April: beige with white stripes, off-white with brown stripes, and indigo blue with white stripes. From the front, these look like your standard Samba, except with the heel cut out for an easier on-off.

White and brown Adidas Samba sneaker with mesh upper and gum sole viewed from the side and back.
The off-white with brown colorway features suede stripes and heel.
Adidas
White and brown Adidas sneaker with woven mesh upper and leather toe cap viewed from above.
Two of the variants come with woven uppers.
Adidas

Interestingly enough, each pair has subtle distinctions from the others. While the beige and off-white both features woven uppers, the stripes and heel on the latter sports a suede leather texture. As for the indigo, it goes solid leather for the upper, but puts a woven texture on the stripes and saves the suede only for the toe cap.

Gum rubber sole of a brown Adidas shoe with textured grip and Adidas logo.
The gum sole helps keep these in line with classic Sambas of yore.
Adidas

A classic gum sole is underneath all three silhouettes, giving these Samba Mules a strong connection to their lineage.

Availability and pricing

Scheduled to drop this summer, the Samba Mule doesn’t have a listed price as of yet, but you can expect them to hover around the $100 price tag of your standard Adidas Samba.

About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

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