This Futuristic New Adidas Sneaker Is Getting Buzz on Social Media
Over the last few years, the dominant Adidas sneakers have been the brand’s retro 1960s and 1970s designs: the Samba, the Gazelle, the Handball Spezial and so on. But that’s not to say the Adidas design team is stuck in the past — in fact, the brand has been quietly cranking out new futuristic designs, although their availability in the U.S. has been limited if not altogether nonexistent.
One such example is the new Adidas XLG MTW, a sneaker that’s been generating considerable buzz on social media but appears as if it could be difficult to purchase for those in the States.
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The Adidas XLG MTW, which has a full name of XLG Metawave, is said to be inspired by Chinese ink painting and features a wavy, multilayered look that has more in common with modern day designer sneakers from the likes of Balenciaga than it does Adidas’ heritage sneakers. It features a chunky sole that juts out from the rear, a mesh-based upper supported by layers of TPU and the brand’s Lightstrike midsole cushioning.
The XLG MTW’s olive-leaning Light Brown style has been making the most noise on social media, but there are a handful of other colorways currently available including Black Gold, Silver Blue, Champagne Gold, Gray Silver, Black Split White, Black, White Gray, and Black Gray.
In the U.S., Adidas’ XLG (extra large) offerings have mostly been limited to puffed-up versions of classic shoes such as the Samba XLG and LA Trainer XLG. The brand’s more experimental XLG shoes, such as the XLG MTW and the recently launched XLG Deluxe, have only been available overseas, mostly as Asia exclusives.
It’s plausible that Adidas is testing the market there to see how its more experimental XLG shoes perform but for now, there does not appear to be any plan to launch the XLG MTW stateside.
