adidas will celebrate the Year of the Snake, the Chinese Zodiac for 2025, with a footwear collection featuring three classic silhouettes: the Samba OG, Superstar, and Campus 00s. Each pair has a clean aesthetic, with attention paid to every detail.
Once a primary market for Yeezy products, since the dissolution of that partnership between the brand and rapper Ye (fka Kanye West), adidas has been doubling down to capture that market's confidence again with classic models and styling. The mercurial rise of designer Dingyun Zhang has accompanied collaborations with the Chinese artist Fefei Ruan. His projects with The Brand With The Three Stripes, in particular, have resonated with fashionistas in some of the cultural hubs of the Asian nation, with the sight of Stan Smith and Samba OG's worn on the streets of Beijing and Shanghai a regular sight.
The CNY-themed adidas Samba OG looks to capitalize on this. Smooth cloud white leather is primarily used for the base of the upper. Nubuck is utilized for the T-style toebox, as is traditional for the model.
Patterned textiles appear at the midfoot, and the Three Stripes overlaying is finished with a snakeskin effect in core black and colorful edging. At the rear, the heel tab in active maroon textured fabric is contrasted by three golden threads, also seen on the woven tongue label. Underfoot, a gum-colored rubber outsole completes the look.
There is a slight switch-up on the adidas Campus 00s, as the upper comprises a neutral cream white suede contrasted by the snakeskin-style active maroon Three Stripes branding on the sides. The chunky silhouette lends itself perfectly to the desired look, as gold and maroon hit the tongue for the Trefoil logo, while a custom-woven pattern is featured on the collar lining. A clean cloud white lace set is coupled with an off white rubber outsole to finish the aesthetic.
The adidas Superstar is also constructed using cloud white leather enveloping the upper base. Still, the snakeskin-style pattern is etched throughout, giving a much more detailed aesthetic. Even the iconic rubber "shelltoe" features the pattern and emphasized ridges.
Tumbled core black leather is utilized for the Three Stripes branding along the midfoot and at the rear, active maroon textured fabric for the heel tab, and an embroidered golden Trefoil logo. This design carries over to the tongue label with a raised, bumpy style insignia. The rubber sole is slightly yellowed for a retro-infused vibe.
All three pairs are finished with custom graphics on the insoles and feature the Chinese symbol for the Year of the Snake embroidered on the lateral heels.
The adidas Originals Year of the Snake Collection is set to release in Spring 2025 via adidas and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men's sizing, the Samba OG will retail for $110, and the Superstar and Campus 00s will retail for $100. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
adidas Samba OG Year of the Snake
Images via adidas
adidas Superstar Year of the Snake
Images via adidas
adidas Campus 00s Year of the Snake
Images via adidas
In this article
Craig Bell happily talks about sneakers or as he calls them "trainers" every day of the year. An avid Bradford City fan, he's also a big supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles. He will forever profess that Cricket is better than Baseball and that Rugby League is better then Rugby Union. Among his many hot takes, he believes the adidas ZX range is the pinnacle of sneaker design.
