“To the Nike people in the room, watch out,” CEO of Adidas Bjørn Gulden said as he accepted the Shoe of the Year award at the FN Achievements Awards of 2023.
He may have had a point. On Monday, March 11, I walked around the RE Upper School campus with a metal counting device and counted all the Adidas Sambas I saw from 8:00 AM to 3:40 PM. I counted 67 pairs. What is so appealing about these simple sneakers?
Contrary to popular belief, Sambas aren’t tied to the traditional Brazilian dance. They were designed in 1949 when a German football team needed durable shoes to combat icy conditions. They used to have an outsole with three cut-out suction cups, amplifying players’ traction and steadiness. Twenty-three years later, in 1972, Adidas updated the Sambas design and gave the shoe a “3 zone profile,” with an outsole that offered quickness and multidirectional grip—the perfect shoe for an efficient game of football. In 1982, Adidas updated the shoe yet again with the Spezials, which “incorporated a shock-absorbent polyurethane wedge and a multi-stud outsole, making it a reliable choice for slippery winter surfaces.”
Here in Miami, however, it’s safe to say people aren’t wearing them because they’re good in icy conditions. Over the years, Sambas have grown beyond their roots, transforming into a fashion statement. The relaunch that solidified them as a fashion staple was the SAMBA Super Battle Pack, a collection that commemorated the 2014 Brazil World Cup. These limited edition sneakers had bold colorways and unique designs, paving the way for all the different colors they come in today.
Sambas remain popular for many reasons. For example, collaborations with iconic designer Grace Wales Bonner and Sporty and Rich have kept their designs fresh. Also, celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Virgil Abloh, and Kendall Jenner have been photographed wearing them, showing how one pair of shoes can easily tie together a basic outfit.
For RE students roaming around campus with Sambas, the appeal starts with their athletic history. “I wear Sambas because my idol in soccer, Johan Cruyff, was known for always wearing Adidas on and off the field. The style and simplicity of the sneakers were also factors that persuaded me to purchase a pair this year, as they’re the perfect school shoes,” said Samuel Bussel-Alonso ’27, who plays on the Junior Varsity soccer team.
For Clementina Gonzalez ‘27, the appeal is more about being able to wear something trendy without breaking the bank. “My friends and I were shopping for shoes, but didn’t want a pair as expensive and basic as the well-known Golden Goose. I wanted to save my money, but also wanted a pair of shoes that I could use for many outfits,” she said.
In some cases, the trend itself was enough to persuade a Sambas owner to purchase them. “I got a pair because all my friends had them, and I thought the shoes were really easy to style,” said Joanna James ’26. “I also really liked all the different colorways, so even though they’re popular shoes, I can make them look unique depending on what I wear with them.”
For other students, however, the appeal of Sambas is a matter of how colorful they are—a feature that shows just how much the sneaker has evolved to match different tastes and personalities. “At first I didn’t want them because I didn’t like how dull the colors were, but when I went on the website, I saw all the different color variations, and it was almost impossible to choose,” said Charlotte Funke ’27.
“I feel like Sambas have a very unique color range,” added Reisha Yavagal ’27. “All the colorful shoes let people express themselves through vibrant color, giving a positive vibe on campus.”
