adidas Originals and successful Chinese designer Dingyun Zhang have teamed up to bring their first joint silhouette to the market: A decidedly innovative version of the Samba sneaker.

The sneaker goes beyond the realm of sport and is also an homage to the heritage of samba in soccer and skateboarding culture. The designer visited the adidas archives in Beijing and Herzogenaurach to find the material needed to reinterpret the iconic look.

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“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,” says Zhang.

“Bypassing obstacles; the more you challenge yourself, the more you think outside the box and push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

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Fluid movements have always been at the heart of the Chinese designer's work, and the impetus of design continues in his interpretation of samba.

The silhouette's upper is made of patent leather with wavy indentations, which are combined with a suede toe box and a matte, embossed rubber sole.

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The silhouette is from Adidas Predator Absolute Football boot from 2006 inspires, while the puffy low-cut look is influenced by the skate references of the 2000s, with an exaggerated padded heel and a low-cut look that recalls the era when skateboarders turned their new shoes into low-tops with a box cutter.

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Made with great attention to detail, the sneaker also features breathable holes along the stripes, which are placed at individual intervals, a slightly shorter tongue and tonal branding.

The all-black look is a nod to the designer's school days, when he had to blacken his sambas to comply with the uniform dress code.

To bring the story of Dinyung Zhang Samba to life, the introduction of the silhouette is accompanied by a series of dynamic films.

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Water can fall, or it can flow. The adidas Originals by Dingyun Zhang Samba is a story about craft transformed into wearable art.

The adidas Originals x Dingyun Zhang Samba is available from May 10th at Asphaltgold and VooStore.

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About Dingyun Zhang:

Dingyun Zhang designs objects that are inspired by fluidity. After graduating from London's renowned Central Saint Martins University in 2020, the Chinese designer has developed a distinctive aesthetic and functional vision that places simplicity and practicality at the heart of his work.

With every piece, the designer transforms sophisticated conceptual thinking into multifunctional garments and accessories that are as resilient as the people and environments that inspire them: from the airy cocoons of his signature outerwear to the familiar second skin of everyday clothing.

In addition to his own creations, Dingyun Zhang has worked with some of the world's most well-known fashion and sportswear labels, including adidas, Moncler and Marni.

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Photos via adidas