Adidas and Nike’s long-running rivalry has produced some iconic sneaker moments, but this one might be the most sparkly showdown yet. Adidas is set to release the Samba OG Rhinestone, and it looks suspiciously like Jordan Brand’s Swarovski x Air Jordan 1 Low that dropped back in May.
The upcoming Samba, scheduled for holiday 2025, is draped in black suede and drenched in rhinestones from heel to toe. It’s not subtle. The three stripes, the T-toe, even the heel tab glimmer like they’ve been rolled through a jewelry store display. The silver accents hit hard under light, giving sneakerheads a reason to stare at their feet a little longer than usual.
While there’s no Swarovski logo here, the resemblance to Jordan’s crystal-covered collaboration is hard to ignore. The difference, however, is that Adidas apparently did its bedazzling in-house. The result is a Samba that feels both familiar and extra at the same time. And if you’ve been keeping up, you’ll know Adidas has been pushing out new Samba variations almost weekly. So, expect more rhinestone-covered versions before your Christmas lights go up.
Of course, with hundreds of crystals hand-placed on the upper, this isn’t your standard $100 pair. Adidas hasn’t confirmed the retail price yet, but you can bet it’ll cost more than your regular terrace trainer.
But Jordan’s Swarovski collaboration set the tone earlier this year. The women’s Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Shadow” dropped globally on May 17, celebrating the silhouette’s upcoming 40th anniversary with an avalanche of premium-cut crystals. Priced at $1,000, it was less a sneaker and more a wearable art piece. Jordan Brand athlete and WNBA star Isabelle “Izzy” Harrison helped unveil the drop at Swarovski on Fifth Avenue in New York.
The Adidas Samba “Rhinestone Black” (style code IH9052) aims to capture that same look. Whether you see it as homage or imitation probably depends on which logo you’ve got on your feet.
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