Dingyun Zhang and adidas have collaborated to release a two-shoe collection of the Samba. With his star continuing to rise, it is no surprise that the young Mongolian-Chinese designer has partnered back up with The Brand With The Three Stripes for another take on the Samba after his first in May 2024 sold out immediately.
After being an integral part of the design team at Yeezy, which included crafting footwear such as the Foam RNNR and NSLTD BT, Zhang set out on his own. Since then, he has gone on to work with multiple big-name brands, including Moncler and Crocs. Born in New Mongol but raised in the Chinese capital, Beijing, Zhang was a big collector of action figures as a child, and it is from this early fascination that his design ideas spring forth. Avatars were brought to life through toys. The infusion of these principles is evident in just about every piece and collection he works on, and it has led to him being a trend-setting designer whom the industry watches and follows closely. With endorsements from friends such as Jerry Lorenzo and Steven Smith, there is little doubt Zhang has the design world at his feet.
The latest Dingyun Zhang x adidas Samba Collection features two colorways, Brown Oxide and White Vapour. Both pairs are constructed from the same material blend with a premium suede upper with a slightly rough, finished cut. Three Stripes branding along the sides is marked by stitching, a subtle change that gives the sneaker an understated aesthetic. The heel counters are chunky and comprise a padded, woven fabric. The slightly longer leather ribbed tongues from the classic Samba are in place, with dual-branded tongue tags. The Brown Oxide pair has a surf red tongue and lace set, a padded heel counter finished in cream white, and a gum rubber outsole. The other pair is entirely enveloped in White Vapour sans the padded heel, tongue, and lace set utilizing a cream white shade.
The Dingyun Zhang x adidas Samba Pack is set to release on October 18, 2024, at Dingyun Zhang, adidas, and select retailers in-store and online. Coming in men's sizing, retail is set at $250. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via adidas
Dingyun Zhang x adidas Samba Brown Oxide
Dingyun Zhang x adidas Samba White Vapour
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.
