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We Called It: The adidas Taekwondo Is Fashion’s Next Big Sneaker
Consider this the perfect excuse to give your go-to Sambas a break.
By
Olivia Cigliano, Stacia Datskovska
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May 14, 2025, 7:04pm
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Top adidas Taekwondo Shoes 2025
adidas Taekwondo Shoe, “Silver Metallic”
Buy Now at adidas $100 Jump to Details
adidas Taekwondo Shoe, “Core Black”
Buy Now at adidas $100 Jump to Details
adidas Taekwondo Shoe, “Clear Pink”
Buy Now at adidas $100 Jump to Details
adidas Taekwondo Shoe, “Cloud White”
Buy Now at adidas $100 Jump to Details
adidas Taekwondo Lace Shoe, “Sand Strata”
Buy Now at adidas $90 Jump to Details
View more +
Just when you think you’re caught up with the best adidas shoe trends, there’s always another stylish Three Stripes sneaker waiting in the wings. 2025’s “It” shoe? Adidas’ Taekwondo, and the proof is in the data. Lyst’s recently released Q1 2025 report identified it as the second hottest product in the world and the hottest shoe (it’s “the latest low-profile shape to excite fashion fans,” per the global shopping platform). This viral status is confirmed on the streets, too, with celebrities donning the purchase in recent weeks as the ultimate spring style weapon.
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By far the Taekwondo’s biggest A-list supporter is the ultimate cool girl: Jennifer Lawrence. It was back in March that she debuted the sneaker, in a leather style that has a black-and-white upper for added chicness. Since then, Lawrence has been wearing the slimmed-down sneaker in conjunction with long spring coats, brightly hued cashmere sweaters, and other transitional weather accruements. It’s also been spotted on the feet of Gracie Abrams, Rita Ora, and Ayo Edebiri in the past year, infusing their diverse ‘fits with covetable edge.
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The sheer popularity of the adidas Taekwondo shoe may seem unexpected. After all, it debuted in the early 2000s and was intended to be worn solely during — you guessed it! — Taekwondo practices. Reimagined in a women’s-exclusive silhouette last summer, the adidas Taekwondo successfully took on a new life, as a lifestyle sneaker despite its martial-arts influences. It was far from alone in achieving this kind of target-audience expansion, joined by other adidas gems à la the adidas Gazelle, Samba, and Handball Spezial: all performance-oriented training shoes that ended up becoming needs and not wants amidst the fashion set.
The adidas Taekwondo’s low-profile design falls right in line with today’s retro sneaker trend. It stands out from the crowd, though, via its laceless, slip-on design (mind you, there are also laced editions up for grabs) and range of finishes that touch on other current fashion trends. Proof of this latter aspect is the Taekwondo in “Silver Metallic,” honoring the Y2K era’s penchant for retro-futuristic, gleaming surfaces, as well as the shoe’s satin pink style that feeds our collective obsession over the balletcore aesthetic.
On that note, for truly embracing your inner dancer, there’s a quirkier version of the adidas Taekwondo out there: in the form of its more feminine cousin, the Taekwondo Mei Ballet sneaker. Alas, this unexpected adidas arrival was so hot that it sold out in a flash and remains inaccessible for now. Even more hype-generating was Bad Bunny’s collab with adidas this spring — working off of the Taekwondo model to drop his elegantly sporty Bad Bunny Ballerina, available now only through resale retailers. His take swaps adidas’ classic leather uppers for suede and canvas, paired with translucent gum soles and soft, slipper-like elastic collars. Want more to look forward to in the adidas Taekwondo universe? Set Google alerts for the adidas F50 Taekwondo, expected this spring; it’s a hybrid sneaker that references soccer cleats, whose glossiness we’re already big fans of.
Fashion influencer Pernille Teisbaek is seen wearing Adidas Taekwondos while attending the Courrèges show during Paris Fashion Week, on September 25, 2024. Christian Vierig/Getty Images
TikTok considers adidas’ Taekwondo offering a godsend, with millions of dedicated posts corroborating its status as the new Samba. The heritage sneaker has truly been reframed as a style statement, and online creators are using it to invoke the viral “wrong shoe” theory in eclectic sartorial mashups that inspire the good kind of double take. A quick scroll through the app offers a wealth of outfit inspiration, ripe for the taking — one user chose to match her metallic Taekwondos with a lace top, black leather jacket, and red handbag for a bonus burst of texture in an already texture-rich ensemble, while another took J Law’s black-and-white, laceless pair of choice to more creative heights by way of a bubble skirt, sports jersey, and dainty jewelry.
styling my new @adidas taekwondo shoes 🥋🤍 Anzeige
If this doesn’t encourage you to score adidas’ foot-hugging Taekwondo trainers in leather or a more breathable textile material fit for the summer, we don’t know what will. After all, no matter what colorway or finish strikes your fancy and makes you pull out your credit card, every last adidas Taekwondo shoe is bound to add the cool factor to your best spring dresses, flowy skirts, and track jacket–powered nods to tenniscore. Being far from a one-season kind of buy, you’ll find yourself reaching for your adidas Taekwondo best friends long after summer has packed its bags and left.
Below, editor-recommended styles at $100 or less to shop while there’s still time.
Sign up for WWD Shop’s newsletter to get the scoop on the best in beauty and style with in-depth reviews of exciting new releases and buyer’s guides to find the products you need to try ASAP.
adidas Taekwondo Shoe, “Silver Metallic”
$100
adidas Taekwondo Shoe, “Core Black”
$100
adidas Taekwondo Shoe, “Clear Pink”
$100
adidas Taekwondo Shoe, “Cloud White”
$100
adidas Taekwondo Lace Shoe, “Sand Strata”
$90
Why Trust Footwear News
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis, and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Authors
Olivia Cigliano was a Commerce Writer and Producer at Footwear News/WWD, where she wrote shopping content on the best-rated footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. While a writer for Footwear News, she routinely reported on adidas’ bestselling releases: including trendy sneakers and athletic trainers that suit different functions, foot types, and personal styles.
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD and FN. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on new footwear releases and archival, iconic styles both.
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