Adidas tapped the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) for its first-ever collaboration with a Major League Soccer club.
Together, the German athletic brand and the Californian team created a take on a classic Adidas Samba sneaker featuring bold pops of metallic gold and contrasting black accents. The limited-edition LAFC x Adidas Samba #StreetByStreet sneaker retails for $90 and drops on August 22 online at WSS.com, Adidas.com, Fanatics.com, Nikys-Sports.com and NTWRK.com.
In addition to the all-black body and gold Three Stripes, the sneaker’s inserts read “Street x Street, Block x Block, One x One,” an homage to one of the Club’s core pillars. It also highlights the LAFC crest on a removable elongated tongue for a more powerful punch during wear.
“The LAFC community was built by being authentic to global football culture and authentic to the city of Los Angeles,” explained Rich Orosco, LAFC executive vice president of brand & community, in a press release. “We are thrilled to create the first-ever Adidas Originals MLS collaboration, and to continue our community journey with the LAFC Samba shoe, a cornerstone of global football and casual culture.”
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In addition to the black-focused #StreetByStreet sneaker, Adidas and LAFC also created a #HeartofGold Samba iteration which highlights primarily gold uppers with black laces. Over time with wear, the gold on the sneaker will start to fade and reveal a version of the black and gold #StreetByStreet Samba; the gold three-stripes and the LAFC details are designed to not fade, though.
Only a limited number of #HeartofGold Sambas were made and are set to be distributed amongst Los Angeles community heroes and frontline workers, honoring those with a “heart of gold.” These recipients were nominated by members of the LAFC community as local leaders doing good and making change within their own communities; the #HeartofGold Samba will not be available for retail purchase.
“LAFC is one of the most exciting sports franchises in the world and together, we are dedicated to being a force for good,” said Timothy Nickloff, brand director of key city activation, in the release. “Our partnership is one built on a shared vision, values and responsibility for Angelino’s across the city. “The Adidas Originals Samba x LAFC is a symbol of the unity soccer culture brings to our great city and the creative spirit that drives us forward, street by street and block by block.”
