The iconic adidas Samba has been given a groundbreaking makeover by Chinese designer Dingyun Zhang. This first collaborative silhouette is a testament to the designer’s dedication to creating novelty and pushing boundaries. Zhang visited the adidas archives in Beijing and Herzogenaurach to uncover the source material needed to reimagine the Samba’s legacy in soccer and skateboarding culture.
The adidas Samba by Dingyun Zhang features a patent leather upper with undulating waves juxtaposed with a suede toe box and a matte embossed gum rubber sole. The silhouette takes inspiration from the 2006 adidas Predator Absolute cleat and 2000s skate references, with an exaggerated cushioned heel and low-cut look that recalls the days when street skaters would customize their shoes into low-tops.
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the sneaker features breathable holes along the shoe’s custom spaced stripes, a slightly shorter tongue and tonal branding. The all-black monochromatic finish is a nod to Zhang’s school days when he had to black out his Sambas to comply with uniform dress codes.
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The launch of the adidas Originals by Dingyun Zhang Samba is accompanied by a series of films that explore the transformation of texture and concept through technology. This collaboration is a story of craftsmanship transformed into wearable art, showcasing Zhang’s ability to stretch highly conceptual ideas into an entirely new physical silhouette.
The adidas Samba by Dingyun Zhang is available today at select retailers and CONFIRMED, with CONFIRMED sign-ups opening at 10:00 CET on May 4.
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