The adidas Samba “Lace” Fuses Baller and Ballerina

adidas has teased the Samba in a new “Lace” makeup, a ballet-inspired take on the heritage football shoe. The Samba’s rise back into rotation over the past few years has led to a diverse spectrum of new variations and collabs, from Pharrell’s Humanrace line to the tripartite 8th Street Samba with Ronnie Fieg and Clarks Originals, but until now it hasn’t dipped into the waters of “balletcore.” While the “Lace” is an in-line release not tied to any collaborator, it echoes the voices of taste-making designers of the day, seemingly nodding to the sporty elegance of Wales Bonner and the playful ribbons of Sandy Liang.

The “Lace” focuses on updating materials rather than making major changes to the Samba’s sleek silhouette. From afar, one might not make out the subtle spin on the football classic – especially in the signature white-and-black colorway shown in the teaser images. White leather uppers are traded with a lace-like mesh throughout the body. Ruffled white trim below the eyestays and heel gives a gentle nod to the tutu skirts traditionally worn in Ballet performances. To top it off, oversized laces with scalloped details and leather flowers adorn the tongue.

As the Samba continues to hold strong, the brand is also pushing other heritage models like the SL72 and the Handball Spezial, included in its 75th-anniversary line. Despite some controversial hiccups, including a Bella Hadid campaign that triggered major backfire, adidas’s strategy of leaning into heritage has proved successful, with revenue growing by 12% in its second fiscal quarter.

adidas has yet to share an official release date for the Samba “Lace,” but the pair is slated for release before the end of 2024.