Former YEEZY Designer Dingyun Zhang Has An adidas Samba Collaboration

Former YEEZY designer Dingyun Zhang, renowned for his cutting-edge approach to multi-functional fashion, is the latest high-profile collaborator to put a spin on the adidas Samba.

Drawing inspiration from adidas’ soccer and skate lines, specifically the adidas Predator Absolute cleat, Zhang’s Samba ditches traditional leather for a glossy patent finish at the base. It also incorporates bulging, puffed-out treatments on the collar, reminiscent of early 2000s skate shoes that riders often modified into low-tops for a unique, cushioned look.

Dingyun Zhang x adidas Samba Asphaltgold

Dingyun Zhang x adidas Samba Asphaltgold

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Zhang’s choice of an all-black color scheme nods to his school days, when he had to paint his Sambas black to comply with uniform regulations. To truly capture the essence of his vision, Zhang delved into the adidas archives in both Beijing and Herzogenaurach, gathering insights that allowed him to reimagine the Samba with his distinct design ethos.

Zhang reflects on the collaboration: “As a designer I’m dedicated to creating newness, from scratch. Picking materials, sifting through past versions of the Samba, spending time measuring out the exact placement of each design feature: this shoe is all about demonstrating that highly conceptual ideas can be stretched into an all-new physical silhouette. Bypassing obstacles; the more you challenge yourself, the more you think outside the box and push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

The Dingyun Zhang x adidas Samba ($250) releases on May 10th via select retailers and the adidas CONFIRMED app. Interested parties can enter the CONFIRMED draw starting on May 4th (4:00 AM EST) until May 10th (9:30 AM EST) in hopes of securing a pair.

While on the topic of all-black adidas, check out the Star Wars x adidas NMD R1 “Darth Vader” releasing May 4th.

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