The Air Jordan 1 will always be at the top of the sneaker resale food chain. But lately another old school performance shoe has been challenging Michael Jordan’s first signature sneaker for its crown, and that shoe, you may be surprised to learn, is none other than the adidas Samba.
Since around 2021, the Samba has been seen on stylish celebrities like Frank Ocean and A$AP Nast and has been used in collaborations by Jason Dill and Wales Bonner. But in the last six to eight months or so, the Samba has really caught fire, so much so that its original “White/Black” colorway that used to be readily available on retailer’s shelves is now nearly impossible to track down. Its other colorways, like the “Black” version, aren’t any easier to locate, either.
There are many reasons as to why the adidas Samba is 2023’s “it” sneaker, but we’ll do our best to explain the shoe’s incredible hot streak, and why you need to be consigning the model at Stadium Goods if you want to earn serious cash in the resale game.
Celebrity Co-Signs
In this day and age of social media, a celebrity co-sign can do wonders for a sneaker’s popularity. The adidas Samba is case study 1A. Not only has the sneaker been worn by the two stylish celebrities we mentioned earlier, but by a long list of other equally stylish people in the spotlight, including Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, and style icon Jonah Hill. Each one of these celebrities is known for their unique style, and has a legion of fans who like to incorporate their style moves into their own wardrobes. It’s no wonder why the Samba is so hot right now.
Sporty and Rich x adidas Samba
Collaborations
Along with those celebrity co-signs, collaborations have also contributed to the adidas Samba’s rise to stardom. Grace Wales Bonner’s collaborative Samba was one of the first Samba projects to land on the in-the-know Instagram moodboard page @hidden.ny. From there, all bets were off, as the likes of Jason Dill, Sporty and Rich, and perhaps most famously, Gucci, all lined up to deck out the retro sneaker as they saw fit.
Classic “White/Black” adidas Samba
Social Media
The component that’s had the most impact on the adidas Samba’s popularity has been social media. From TikTok to Instagram, and every platform in between, the Samba has been lauded by users looking to follow in the footsteps of their favorite celebrities and brands who have repped for the vintage design. On TikTok, the #adidassamba became such a trending search that it has amassed over 147 million views on the platform. On Instagram—and TikTok—the Samba has had its praises sung by fashion-forward content creators who recognize both the shoe’s immense appeal and practicality.
The Hype is Real
Like the Nike Dunk, another once-slept-on, old school performance shoe that caught a second wind later on in its lifecycle, the adidas Samba’s hype is real. And just like the Dunk, the Samba is very high on a short list of shoes you need to be wearing if you want a sneaker that is comfortable and good to go in a variety of situations. With more people likely joining the wave this spring and summer, that means there will be more opportunities for our Consignor Partners to sell their Sambas at Stadium Goods and earn some serious coin while doing so.
Consign your Sambas with Stadium Goods by downloading the StadiumSupply App.
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