What qualities would instantly make someone fall in love at first sight? The signature three strips, the T-toe detail, 100% artificial leather, draped in faux leather, and no exorbitant price tag attached. In other words, a pair of vegan sambas. Or many!

It’s not uncommon to see these shoes all around you. The human race is falling head over heels for the updated versions of the original sambas for a reason. A valid reason. Crafted from faux leather, this reimagined icon has eliminated the use of animal-derived materials. First produced in 1949, when they were originally designed as indoor soccer shoes, they have now expanded to cover a wide range of terrain.

While the design is identical to the original, the vegan renditions are looking to a more environmentally conscious future. These shoes are manufactured with recycled materials as part of Adidas’s commitment to reducing plastic waste. “This product is made with recycled content as part of our ambition to end plastic waste. 20% of the pieces used to make the upper are made with a minimum of 50% recycled content. Made with vegan alternatives to animal-derived ingredients or materials.” —claims the official website of Adidas.

Photo courtesy: Pinterest

In the 1950 FIFA World Cup, Adidas created the Samba model as a marketing tool to encourage soccer players and supporters to purchase the shoe. The Samba was named after a traditionally-occurring Brazilian dance and musical genre. Brazil is renowned for its samba dance and carnival, and Adidas wanted to showcase its shoe at the World Cup. In the run-up to the tournament, Adidas settled on the name for the shoe.

Guy N’ Kicks, a YouTube channel with 9.25k subscribers is a source of sneaker reviews, news, and other sneaker-related content for the sneaker community. The latest video was posted in April of this year dedicated to these vegan shoes mentioned how in the past 8 months, these shoes have been all over social media and off-social media. The YouTuber also compared them to Adidas Stan Smiths and shared how he’s biased towards the Vegan Sambas as he recommends them for the summer.

Photo courtesy: Guy N’ Kicks (YouTube)

Photo courtesy: Pinterest

The samba, the second best-selling shoe of the German multinational, Adidas is always either sold out or sold too quickly. And, the vegan versions are no different. While they bring along their ancestral timelessness in design, not to forget they are also “vegan”—making them attractive to both sneaker enthusiasts and fashion-conscious individuals.

Veganism has gained significant traction in recent years, with more people adopting plant-based lifestyles for various reasons, including health, environmental concerns, and animal rights. As the popularity of veganism continues to rise, products like vegan Sambas appeal to individuals who are looking to incorporate their ethical choices into their fashion and footwear preferences.

People have validated the vegan samba line in almost every field of life. Celebrities, social media influencers, sports personalities, music luminaries, and college-going students—have all embraced these shoes.

Rihanna paired her white-gum vegan versions with a denim-colored two-piece, and Hailey Bieber was seen complimenting black gums effortlessly with a baggy tee and white ribbed crew socks. Kaia Berger partnered her black vegans with straight pants and a pinstripe shirt left open while walking her dog and a neighbor of mine who works in finance matched them with her beige dress pants suit, while an old lady wore them to whole foods with three Berry Chantilly cakes in her basket. To put it differently, everyone is a fan. They are versatile. One can dress them up or wear them casually. And hence, Samba’s popularity only seems to be heading onward and upwards.

An iconic shoe style that has existed since the 1950s, this low-profile silhouette has stood the test of time and remains fashionable. Available in various colors such as Collegiate Green, Cloud White, Better Scarlet, Clay Strata, and Crystal White, but the Vegan classic white-and-black colorway goes with everything you own remains the most wanted.

Typically featuring a padded insole, a supportive midsole, and a durable rubber outsole is a combination that provides cushioning and stability, making them comfortable for extended wear. Adidas vegans can be worn with various outfits, ranging from casual to semi-formal, making them suitable for a wide range of occasions. Whether paired with jeans, shorts, or even dresses, Sambas can add a touch of sporty yet elegant style to any look.

Photo courtesy: Pinterest

The vegan leather sambas cost the same as the regular ones, leaving no room for fiscal disappointments. So, “Left foot, right foot, levitating …”, It wouldn’t be wrong to say that these lines in Singer and songwriter Dua Lipa’s song “Levitating” indirectly ask you to groove in Adidas vegan Sambas! Because although Vegan sambas have been designed as footwear, we agree they are “fly” and help you levitate! Don’t they?

Article by Palak Godara, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Designer, PhotoBook Magazine

The Adidas Sambas: Vegan & Voguish