Wales Bonner’s Sambas Are Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Fact: of adidas’ many collaborators, Wales Bonner makes the best Samba sneakers in the biz. Opinion: Wales Bonner’s next Sambas are possibly her best-ever.

Wales Bonner and adidas have been at it for years, creating killer Samba shoes before the sneaker’s craze ever crested. The first shoes that the British designer created with adidas back in 2020 were arguably the highest of high-water marks — versatile Samba and SL72 sneakers in neutral colorways, accented with handstitched details, and sold-out in mere moments.

Buuuuuut in terms of shoes that balance statement style with versatile appeal, Wales Bonner might’ve outdone herself with her latest Samba collab.

Wales Bonner & adidas Originals have reunited for another take on the Samba for Fall/Winter 2023.

Feast your eyes on the follow-up to Wales Bonner’s silver SS23 shoes, which counteract that Samba’s metallic zest with …. fur. And lots of it.

Wales Bonner’s new adidas are actually awesome, though. This is how you make a simple shoe that ain’t boring. I mean, you certainly can’t call these things, with their furry white uppers, boring. Plus, the handstitched detailing gives the Sambas further curb appeal without going OTT.

Following leaked images of the shoes surfacing online in late October, adidas and Wales Bonner have finally now confirmed a release date of November 8.

It was already well-established that Wales Bonner her Spring/Summer 2024 Samba sneakers all lined up, so let’s look at this Fall/Winter 2023 adidas collaboration as a sort of inevitable palette cleanser ahead of next season.

Typical of the majority of Wales Bonner’s adidas collaborations, FW23 also arrives with a handful of apparel options to complement the new sneakers.

Tracksuits, T-shirts, sweats, and more cozy ensembles arrive with the designer’s motif in tandem with adidas’ three stripes, all realised in an inherently nostalgic WB color palette.

As is always the case with these collections, you’ll need to move fast to have any chance of sporting some of Wales Bonner’s retro looks later this year, because everything will likely sell out as soon adidas releases them – especially the Sambas.

This article was first published on October 19 and updated on November 6.

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