The sneaker landscape is looking a lot less futuristic than it did a decade ago. Back then, there was an influx of styles that looked as though they were designed to scale the moon, rendered in pale-hued foamy materials with curvaceous lines. And even five years ago, when the world plunged into lockdown, sneaker were, by and large, on the chunkier side (Nike’s Dunks and Jordans were particularly popular, fuelled by covetable new releases). As for 2025? Slimline silhouettes reign supreme, with a focus on revived archive models. The ubiquity of three key Adidas styles: the Japan, Taekwondo and Tokyo, are testament to this shift.
Adidas, of course, dominated the market with its Samba in 2023—it was given exhaustive airtime in the media (in no small part thanks to a cameo on the then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak) resulting in peaks and troughs in public perception—but the same fans are now championing the aforementioned retro trio. Some people have even shown a preference for the more divisive Japan H, a high-top boxing trainer that content creators have adopted as a sportier alternative to boots.
The Japan, Taekwondo and Tokyo share multiple design traits. The first were originally made for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, with a skinny asymmetric sole that flattens out towards the front, three-stripe appliqué and contrast accents. The perforated uppers and double-stitched T-toe, a detail that echoes the Samba, are modern additions.
The shoe has also been a focal point for multiple collaborations, including Adidas Originals’s ongoing union with Grace Wales Bonner—the designer has released styles in burgundy/cardboard, inky blue/cream, brown/cream and yellow/brown colorways—while Newcastle-hailing store End recently reinterpreted the Japan as part of its 20th anniversary, with a collaboration entitled “Tying The Knot.” As well as redesigning the Superstar, the collab realised the Japan with white lace and a “something blue” insole—both of which nodded to the overarching wedding theme.
While the Tokyos are designed in a similar spirit to the Japans—curved lines, streamlined silhouette—inspired by ’70s running shoes, the ’80s Taekwondo is rid of laces. As its name suggests, its history is rooted in martial arts, with an easy slip-on design that has, in turn, made them a directional choice for people wearing them beyond their original purpose. Their offbeat appeal has clearly resonated: StockX reveals a 5,650% increase in year-on-year trades, dubbing them in “pole position to become the It-shoe of 2025,” according to a brand spokesperson. Similarly, Goat has also seen quadruple-digit growth in sales. Looks like 2025’s version of the Samba has made itself known.
