The Adidas Samba Just Got a Major Corporate Makeover
GQ RecommendsA new riff on the classic sneaker pulls inspiration from the dressiest hard-bottoms on your shoe rack.By Adam CheungDecember 16, 2024Save this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.In the 75 years that the Adidas Samba has been around, it hasn't really changed that much. But the Adidas Samba OG ‘Brogue Pack’? Well, the ‘Brogue Pack’ hits a little different. The Samba, of course, was originally made famous by soccer stars (and guys who aspired to dress like them). But the two new colorways Adidas rolled out this past weekend are inspired by a different archetype altogether: the polished man-about-town, and the shoes he swears by—namely, swanky leather hard-bottoms.Available in two shades of mouth-watering mocha Adidas calls ‘brown’ and ‘dust rust’, each pair is made from premium leather that skews more bench-made wingtip, less beater sneaker. Sure, you'll find all of the classic details in the mix: the T-shaped toe box, the legendary three stripes branding, the ribbed heel. But you'll also find added perforations across the entire uppers, not unlike the telltale broguing you'd encounter on an ultra-classic pair of dress shoes.AdidasSambas OG Shoes$140 AdidasAdidasSamba OG Shoes$140 AdidasRest assured, the iconic Samba branding is still debossed onto the lateral sidewalls, and while the ‘brown’ silhouette sits on top of a matching rubber sole, the ‘dust rust’ revives the old-school gum counterpart that's been around for over seven decades.Look, we're well aware that the Samba isn't as hot as it used to be, but that hasn't stopped the German sportswear giant from doubling down on the style. And you know what? We ain't mad at it. After snapping up the Atmos collaboration, drooling over the limited-edition ‘Year of the Snake’ riff, and ensuring a lush, pony hair rendition sells out equally quickly, sneakerheads are slowly but surely drifting back to the model, and we don't expect that to change in 2025.The Adidas Samba OG ‘Brogue Pack’ is available on the Adidas website now.
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
In the 75 years that the Adidas Samba has been around, it hasn't really changed that much. But the Adidas Samba OG ‘Brogue Pack’? Well, the ‘Brogue Pack’ hits a little different. The Samba, of course, was originally made famous by soccer stars (and guys who aspired to dress like them). But the two new colorways Adidas rolled out this past weekend are inspired by a different archetype altogether: the polished man-about-town, and the shoes he swears by—namely, swanky leather hard-bottoms.
Available in two shades of mouth-watering mocha Adidas calls ‘brown’ and ‘dust rust’, each pair is made from premium leather that skews more bench-made wingtip, less beater sneaker. Sure, you'll find all of the classic details in the mix: the T-shaped toe box, the legendary three stripes branding, the ribbed heel. But you'll also find added perforations across the entire uppers, not unlike the telltale broguing you'd encounter on an ultra-classic pair of dress shoes.
Rest assured, the iconic Samba branding is still debossed onto the lateral sidewalls, and while the ‘brown’ silhouette sits on top of a matching rubber sole, the ‘dust rust’ revives the old-school gum counterpart that's been around for over seven decades.
Look, we're well aware that the Samba isn't as hot as it used to be, but that hasn't stopped the German sportswear giant from doubling down on the style. And you know what? We ain't mad at it. After snapping up the Atmos collaboration, drooling over the limited-edition ‘Year of the Snake’ riff, and ensuring a lush, pony hair rendition sells out equally quickly, sneakerheads are slowly but surely drifting back to the model, and we don't expect that to change in 2025.
The Adidas Samba OG ‘Brogue Pack’ is available on the Adidas website now.
