Adidas‘ shaggy cheetah print Samba has been a major hit, selling out through numerous restocks since debuting at the beginning of 2025. All but a few sizes remain sold out via retail now, but an unnatural take on another big cat’s coat has emerged
The Adidas Samba “Green Leopard” brings a bold color to the already-bold sneaker. Synthetic pony hair covers the upper with spots printed across the “Semi Screaming Green” material. Black leather counteracts the vivid print via the Three Stripes, tongue, liner and mustache, while the cupsole arrives in a classic translucent gum.
Animal print pony hair has become a recurring motif in sneakers over the past year, and daring treatments such as these have played a large role in keeping the Samba relevant years after it began to dominate trends once again.
Other recent transformations for the Samba have included iterations as a lugged dress shoe and woven mule, as well as more standard builds incorporating rhinestones, faux-snakeskin and other novel materials.
Matt Powell, senior advisor at BCE consulting and a longtime industry expert, pointed to this phenomenon in explaining how Adidas can ride the momentum on another of its popular shoes, the Evo SL.
“If you think about the Samba, what’s kept that shoe alive are the variations,” Powell said. “The core shoe doesn’t have nearly the same heat, but the mary janes, sneakerinas, floral materials, animal hides and all that — that’s what’s kept the Samba live. If you do other variations, you give a person a reason to put a second one in their closet, not because it’s pink.”
The Adidas Samba “Green Leopard” has already began popping up through third-party retailers and will likely become available on Adidas’ website soon. Pricing is set at $120.
Adidas Samba “Green Leopard” (lateral)
Adidas Samba “Green Leopard” (medial)
Adidas Samba “Green Leopard” (above)
Adidas Samba “Green Leopard” (outsole)