adidas Samba

What it is

The Samba is a low-cut shoe from adidas that began life in the 1950s as an indoor and training football shoe. According to adidas, it was designed to give players grip on frozen and icy pitches. Over the decades it moved from sports halls and five-a-side courts into everyday fashion, and it remains part of the adidas Originals range.

How it works

The Samba's design is simple. It has a smooth leather upper, a T-shaped overlay on the toe, the Three Stripes on the side and a flat gum rubber sole. The gum sole gives traction on hard and smooth surfaces such as indoor courts or frozen ground, while the low profile keeps the foot close to the ground for ball control. The shape has changed little since its early years, though materials and colourways have varied widely.

Why it stands out

Few sports shoes have proved so adaptable. The Samba served footballers for decades as a training and indoor shoe, became associated with football terrace culture and later moved into skateboarding, music subcultures and high fashion. Its recent revival made it one of the most visible shoes on city streets. For adidas, the shoe illustrates how a functional product, designed for a specific sporting problem, can become a cultural icon when its design is honest and timeless.

Where you meet it

You see Sambas on indoor football courts, in schoolyards, at concerts and on catwalks. The shoe is sold in adidas stores and through sports and fashion retailers worldwide, often in limited editions and collaborations with designers.