Adidas Drops Special-Edition Samba, Gazelle and Handball Spezial for Its 75th Anniversary
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Sunday marked the 75th anniversary of Adidas, as the Adolf Dassler Adidas Sportschuhfabrik was founded on August 18, 1949, following the split of the Dassler brothers. To commemorate the company’s diamond anniversary, a three-pack of sneakers has been made available to purchase exclusively for Adiclub members.
The Adidas Samba, Gazelle and Handball Spezial make up the “75th Anniversary Pack,” bringing together three of the brand’s most popular shoes of the moment under a common theme. While each silhouette gets its own color scheme, they all feature mismatched gold debossing heel branding with “75” on the left mustache and the Trefoil logo on the right. Across the two shoes’ lining, you’ll also find gold debossing with the dates, “August 18, 1949” and “August 18, 2024.”
The Samba plays with the shoe’s staple black and white colorway by opting adding white leather eyestays. Rather than the familiar translucent gum, the cupsole is rendered in black to retain a consistent monochrome. Adding more gold is the Gazelle, which pairs a gold suede upper with black leather overlays for the striping, eyestays and mustache. The midsole comes in cream, while the outsole sits in gum.Rounding out the trio is the Handball Spezial, which comes in blue suede with white leather overlays and a translucent gum cupsole.
Adidas CEO Bj?rn Gulden and Lionel Messi featured on the cover of Footwear News earlier this summer for an issue looking back on 75 years of Adidas. Speaking on where the brand stands now, Gulden said: “In front of the consumer, especially with women, we have turned the ship because the Originals and lifestyle part of the business has become very popular. When you look at the Spezial, the Campus and the SL 72, these are the healthy sneakers in many cities already. I didn’t expect that to happen so quickly, but when it happens quickly, it brings a better mood and builds better relationships.”
The Adidas “75th Anniversary” Samba, Gazelle and Handball Spezial are out now on the Adidas website exclusively for those with Adiclub membership, which is free to sign up for. Pricing is set at $110 for the Gazelle and Samba and $120 for the Handball Spezial.
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About Adidas Samba, Gazelle, And Handball Spezial Shoes
Samba shoes are a staple heritage Adidas shoe that dates back to 1949. Today, the shoe is one of the most impactful shoe trends of the decade — and one of Footwear News’ Greatest Shoes of All Time. It won the Footwear News’ Shoe of the Year Award in 2023 and has driven massive growth in the soccer-inspired shoe category. The silhouette plays as a fashionable walking sneaker with retro appeal and has seen blockbusting collaborations with the likes of Wales Bonner, Caroline Hu, JJJJound, and soccer icon Lionel Messi.
Similarly, Adidas Gazelle shoes are a streetwear staple today, with deep roots in culture since its release in the ’60s. It reigned at the top of the 2023 Lyst Index Hottest Product List and is regularly sported by celebrities like Olivia Wilde, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Brad Pitt. Over time, the shoe has been reissued with softer materials like premium suede, vibrant colorways, and better comfort features. It’s an iconic Adidas sneaker, with several modern iterations like the Gazelle Bold platform sneakers, Gazelle High-Top silhouette, and Gazelle Indoor shoes that don a trendy translucent gum sole.
Handball Spezial Shoes represent the brand’s distinct ’70s performance design and are beloved today as a daily comfortable sneaker for women and men. They feature suede uppers and thick rubber outsoles, and over the past year, have been made over with seasonal colorways and exciting collaborations with brands like Sporty & Rich and Kith. In April, Adidas celebrated the Spezial franchise’s 10-year anniversary with a special “Decade” pack of archived silhouettes.
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About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
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