Matt Varga Updated May 16th, 2024: The full Wales Bonner x adidas collection has been revealed. Most notably, an alternate version of the “football stitching” Samba Millenium will be released, titled the “Pony Nappa” edition. Though the general shape remains intact, this new version swaps to raw brown leather at the forefoot and pony hair at the heel cup, painted in vibrant “Royal Blue.” Elsewise, the construction remains the same, replete with a green sockliner and the split sole.
In addition to those Samba Millenium styles, two additional pairs of the silhouette (albeit more traditional ones) and two pairs of the SL76 are now included. For the orthodox Samba constructions, blue meets earth shades across a pair in “Wonder Clay” and one in beige. The SL76 takes on a simplistic mix of mesh and suede, offered in two contrasting palettes of black-on-blue and black-on-yellow. The entire collection is inspired by the runners of East Africa, manifesting on all the colorways featured here.
Both the “Elephant Nappa” and “Pony Nappa” will retail for $250, all other footwear styles are $180. A full apparel collection will also drop alongside the shoes. Catch official images of the full adidas x Wales Bonner collection just ahead in anticipation of the May 21st launch date.
WHERE TO BUY
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba Millenium asphaltgold
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba Millenium asphaltgold
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba Millenium asphaltgold
WHERE TO BUY
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba Millenium asphaltgold
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba Millenium asphaltgold
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba Millenium asphaltgold
WHERE TO BUY
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
WHERE TO BUY
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba adidas
WHERE TO BUY
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
WHERE TO BUY
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
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- Wales Bonner x adidas SL 76 adidas
Original article posted May 9th, 2024: Among a few key drivers behind the adidas Samba‘s current red-hot run, Grace Wales Bonner and the fashion imprint that shares her name stand at the very top. The frequent collaborators aren’t showing any signs of slowing down- the latest Wales Bonner x adidas Samba has just emerged, wearing strong retro influence in its design.
Though the footwear offered in the early stages of Wales Bonner x adidas trended towards plain, conservative takes, this shoe speaks to how experimental the later products have become. Only the overall shape of the Samba remains on this shoe, the construction twisted and bent in radical ways. The toe-box is sectioned into a radial pattern, stretching towards the quarter which only barely presents typical Three Stripes branding. The back half continues the theme in tumbled brown leather, exaggerated exposed stitching sitting proud under the heel cup. Underfoot, the Samba Millenium midsole is borrowed, its weave between matte off-white and translucent gum countering the same aesthetic split up top. A green silken sock-liner closes out the tweaks, breaking up the comprehensively neutral palette in the process.
While adidas’ lengthy football history looms large on this collaboration in broad strokes, the curvy patterns in particular speak to models like the Copa Mundial, its bumpy toe-box a clear influence here. The raw natural tonality digs even further into the archives, stretching to the very beginnings of the brand when tan leather still dominated their catalog.
The Wales Bonner x adidas Samba will retail for $250, releasing via adidas channels on May 20th. This shoe will be joined by another similarly clad Samba, an SL72 and a full range of collab apparel options. Enjoy detailed looks via a gallery of retailer images just ahead.
For more on this model, check out Pharrell’s Human Race adidas Samba collection, a multi-color six shoe arrangment dropping on May 15th.
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba BTSN
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba BTSN
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba BTSN
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- Wales Bonner x adidas Samba BTSN
