Wales Bonner and Adidas Are Revisiting the Samba and SL72

Wales Bonner deserves a nontrivial amount of credit for the Samba’s resurgence as one of the “it” shoes of the moment. The eponymous brand from designer Grace Wales Bonner first teamed up with Adidas in 2020 to take on the iconic soccer, as well as the SL72. The two collaborators have since revisited the Samba on two separate occasions, and now it’ll come back for a third time along its original partner in the podium shoe from the 1972 Munich Olympics.

The Samba makes its return with familiar construction but one big change in materials. A metallic silver leather dresses the upper, providing a stark contrast with the crocheted Stripes and other stitched detailing. It’s simultaneously futuristic and old-fashioned, an oddball that should garner no shortage of attention.

Joining the sheeny Samba will be two versions of the SL72 that mark a significant departure from their first Wales Bonner rendition. The upper’s base is now woven in mesh with matching heel, toe box, and eyelets in suede on the green version and nubuck for the brown. Similar stitching to the Samba appears where the heel panel meets the contrasting mustache in smooth leather, and the material is used again for the collar.

For now, all we know is to expect Wales Bonner and Adidas’ latest link-up to arrive sometime during the FW23 season. Download the DROPS by SoleSavy app as we provide you with any and all updates.