Did Adidas Just Agree That Its Sneakers Are Uncomfortable?
Photo 179325875 © Seventytwostock | Dreamstime.com
The Adidas Samba, with its sleek design and indoor football roots, is experiencing a resurgence as a street style staple alongside other retro favorites. However, there’s a catch: some wearers are finding it, well, less than comfy.
Sambas are known for having a bit of a break-in period. The leather upper can feel stiff at first, and some people experience rubbing or blisters until the shoe conforms to their foot. This is especially common around the ankles and the tongue. Nonetheless, it’s a hurdle many fans are willing to jump over, knowing the shoes eventually soften.
@brkicks IYKYK 🥴 (via @gizli hesabim kendimce) #adidas #adidasoriginals #sambas #sneakers #sneakerheads #sneakerheadsbelike #sneakercommunity #sneakerrotation #adidassamba
♬ original sound - B/R Kicks
This trade-off between initial discomfort and ultimate coolness became a subject on social media lately. Lifestyle content creator Mengyan Yu, for one, took to TikTok to share her struggles with the unyielding Sambas.
@diana_mengyan2 super disappointed by their response
♬ original sound - Mengyan Yu
Adidas’s perplexing reply? “Gotta sacrifice for the look.”
Internet users have been taken aback by the response. Social media marketing expert Annie-Mai Hodge, who drew more attention to the comment, pointed out that while fit could be an issue for the influencer, the response felt off-putting.
How NOT to respond to a social media complaint 101:
— annie-mai (@anniemaisocial) May 6, 2024
Mengyan Yu posted on TikTok about how bad the viral Samba trainers by adidas are.
adidas responded with: “Gotta sacrifice for the look” 🫣
And Yu’s second video about how disappointed she is with the response from adidas?… pic.twitter.com/tFpffehjiX
Others said Adidas was “[amplifying] a negative sentiment by throwing shade on their own product” and “[literally] agreeing that the shoes are bad but look good.”
Note to brands: your intrusive thoughts don’t always win.
[via annie-mai and Mengyan Yu, images via various sources]
