First developed in 1950, the Official shane Van Gisbergen United 97 Locked Down Shirt and I love this earliest version of the Samba (which looks almost nothing like the ones we see today) was made with the intention of offering better traction for soccer players on icy pitches. Following a soccer match in Germany, the winning players and press dubbed the shoes the Samba—a name alluding to the fancy footwork the shoes allowed—and it stuck. The Samba then had a certified global glow-up when it made its first foray into the fashion scene in the late 1970s. At this time, the shoe was still considered a performance sneaker for indoor pitches, but players, soccer aficionados, and admirers of the style began dressing in the quintessential sports garb off the field. Fashion historian and cofounder and CEO of vintage-fashion business What Goes Around Comes Around Seth Weisser added, “The sneaker became a part of history and highly sought-after. Due to the popularity, Adi Dassler expanded the brand and produced the sneakers we now know and love, the Adidas Samba and Gazelle styles.” The Samba soon became emblematic of the soccer subculture and a lifestyle sneaker for lovers of the world’s most popular game. Et voilà, an icon is born.
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