Debunking the Hype: Is the Adidas Samba Truly the Shoe of the Year?

As 2023 draws to a close and we take a look back on the collective state of the sneaker scene, there seems to be one silhouette that has stood out among the rest. We are, of course, talking about the adidas Samba, the sneaker that has witnessed a revival that most companies could only dream of.

Spurred on by a multitude of collaborative efforts from the likes of Wales Bonner, Sporty & Rich, Palace and Pharrell Williams' Humanrace, to name a few, the Samba has seen a 900% increase in search volume in the UK in the past year alone. Needless to say, the Samba has now found itself among the most coveted sneaker silhouettes available, but it almost begs the question - why?

Well, truth be told, there are several ways you can look at it. As World Cup fever ushered in a new era of blokecore mid-way through 2022, the Samba quickly found itself to be a favoured silhouette not only among the terrace-tarrying casuals found up and down every football stadium of the country but also a new wave of fashion-conscious individuals that call the big cities home.

This trend, paired with the ever-looming threat of the cost of living crisis, quickly made the Samba a viable option for many of those looking to keep up with the ebb and flow of fashion without spending the big bucks. Combine this with the fact that the Samba not only has a legacy of back catalogue colourways but a canvas built for creativity, and it almost makes you wonder why it wasn't a hit sooner than it was.

So, is the Samba the silhouette of the year? Well, the likes of Lyst and the FN Achievement Awards seem to think so. Off the back of the whole YEEZY drama, it is damn right impressive that adidas has managed to persevere and land itself at the forefront of the sneaker world with a silhouette that's over 70 years old.

With that said, there are other silhouettes of note that spring to mind. Take Nike's Dunk, for instance. While the "Panda" trend might still be on a steady decline, other Dunks and its SB counterpart have thrived this year due to experimental and stylish colourways. It already looks as if Nike is lining up quite the year too, given the recent leaks.

Truth be told, you can make the case for a number of brands and silhouettes, but there's no denying the fact that the Samba is up there is nothing short of impressive. Up next, Nike is truly putting its best foot forward with the Alphafly 3.