You might not have heard of the Adidas Bali before, but the sneaker has been around for a while. In fact, this silhouette was introduced all the way back in 1977 as part of the coveted Island Series. And while all of the other colourways in the collection have re-released since, the Bali is coming back for the first time ever. It may have taken almost five decades to return, but better late than never, right?
When the Bali was first revealed in the ‘70s, it was regarded by many as the perfect substitute to the Samba. Fast forward to today, and some sneakerheads are already thinking the exact same thing. Featuring a design that’s heavily influenced by the Adidas archives, this new version features a ‘Chalk Blue’ suede build that's super soft and super buttery. ‘Marine Blue’ Three Stripes features across the lateral and medial sidewalls, and this oceanic hue extends towards the heel as well to really bring everything together.
Just like the aforementioned Samba, this trainer rests on top of a rubber midsole that's relatively flat and low to the ground. However, unlike the aforementioned Samba, this trainer does away with the classic T-toe design at the front. It also comes with special “Bali” branding that's printed on the tongue, just to remind you that this isn't any old shoe. All of this then comes in a special edition shoebox, similar to the old school packaging from the days of yore.
It's no secret that the Samba is currently one of the most popular sneakers in the world. Austin Butler likes ‘em. Timothée Chalamet, too. In fact, judging by the fact that they've amassed almost 900 million views on TikTok, almost everyone likes them. But as they become more and more hyped, some people have been trying to find the ultimate alternative to them. Bella Hadid, for example, recently replaced her pair with the SL-72. And the freshly-revived Tischtennis also has everything needed to take them on.
The Adidas Bali ‘Tactile Blue’ is set to drop at Adidas, the Confirmed app, and select stockists on February 29 for around £90.
