Adidas Just Elevated Its Iconic Sandal to Prodigious Heights

One of Adidas’ most famous shoes, not named Samba, has just received an impeccable luxury overhaul courtesy of Wales Bonner.

A pair of Wale Bonner Adidas Adilette recovery sandals in cream white with blue strips shown peeking out from the bottom edge of an image with a speckled blue background

By Ben Bowers

Published May 29, 2025

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Adidas dropped the original Adilette slide back in 1972. The minimalist slip-on sandal, defined by its molded “bandage” EVA upper, was originally developed as a shower shoe to help prevent the spread of athletes foot.

It was soft, cushy, and easy to slip on and off hands-free. It was also waterproof, quick-drying, and very cheap for Adidas footwear.

As such, it’s no surprise that the Adilette was an immediate hit for Adidas and was soon embraced far outside the locker room by athletes who appreciated the sandal’s comfort and relaxed fit.

Today, Adidas makes countless iterations of the Adilette tuned for everything from hanging by the pool and, yes, still showering,

However, a new collaborative iteration of the slide, made in partnership with the menswear brand Wales Bonner, finally brings a level of luxury to the sandal design that at least some subsets of the fashion world have wanted for years.

A True Gucci Rival

A pair of Wales Bonner Adidas Adilette slides sandals in brown shown from above.

Gucci famously ripped off the Adilette over a decade ago and transformed it into a luxury staple by hand-making it in Italy and charging a small fortune.

Now, like it did last year with the Samba, Wales Bonner has elevated the Adilette to similar luxury heights at a slightly more reasonable price tag, though still 14 times more expensive than a standard pair of Adilettes.

A detailed view showing the weaved upper of a Wales Bonner Adidas Adilette slides sandals in white.

The typical plastic bandage upper has been replaced by a textured, woven leather upper that retains the sandal’s iconic stripes.

A premium leather footbed also replaces the usual plastic for comfort, which should only increase with wear as the sandals break in and mold to an owner’s feet.

Different Details Underneath

A pair of Wales Bonner Adidas Adilette slides sandals in white shown with the sandal soles facing up.

The outsole might be the most interesting part of the collaboration, though. Adidas describes its tire-like design as an homage: “to the resourcefulness of communities across Africa, where repurposing old tires into durable shoe outsoles has been a longstanding tradition.”

Light or Dark?

Adidas

The special collaboration is available in two subtle, premium shades of “Wonder White / Indigo” and “Dark Brown / Wonder White / Night Brown.”

Pricing and Availability

A pair of Wales Bonner Adidas Adilette slides sandals in white shown from the heel forward.

Both versions of the sandal cost $350. They’re available through Adidas, but only for those who’ve registered for free and downloaded the brand’s CONFIRMED app.

If that sounds like too much of a hassle, interested buyers can also pick up a pair directly from Wales Bonner while sizes last for 300 pounds or roughly ~$404 as of publication.

A pair of Wales Bonner Adidas Adilette slides sandals in white shown pointing at an angle to the right-hand edge of the screen.

Adidas Originals Wales Bonner Adilette Slides (Wonder White)

A pair of Wales Bonners Adidas Adilette slides in brown

Adidas Original Wales Bonner Adilette Slides (Night Brown)

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.