Wales Bonner has gone from the hip new kid in the Adidas collaborator lineup to the gold standard. The duo’s (roughly) biannual collaborations are appointment viewing for sneakerheads and fashion folks alike, reliably churning out It Shoe hits with elite apparel to match. British designer Grace Wales Bonner’s work with the Stripes has helped push silhouettes like the Samba Millennium and the SL 72 into the spotlight, but this collection features a shoe that’s a long time coming: the first original Wales Bonner x Adidas sneaker.
Dubbed the WB Karintha, it’s a showstopper in a collection already full of them (the bowling bag and high-top Adidas Superstars are particularly stunning). The WB Karintha is a sleek, angular low-top silhouette with a slightly pointed toe. Both launch colorways trade in shades of brown, albeit both from starkly different textiles. The first pairs sequins with satin for an eye-catching texture clash, both in deep shades of velvety brown, and the thick Three Stripes emblazoned across the side.
Courtesy of Adidas
The second colorway aims for a more toned-down approach, with the shoe’s upper consisting of a tan suede. It’s less structured than its sibling and comes with tan laces to match the tone of the upper. Instead of bold stripes, this one opts for the approach of the iconic Adidas Stan Smith and features three lines made of perforated holes in the suede. We’ll call these the everyday pair, while the sequin and satins might be better for a night out—whenever Harry Styles is back on tour, you can safely bet on him lacing up a pair.
Courtesy of Adidas
Innovation is what keeps long-term partnerships between designers and sneaker brands from getting stale. We’re always down to see what Wales Bonner is up to with Adidas, but launching an original silhouette certainly feels like the right move at the right time. Expect to see more of the WB Karintha later in the year.
The full Wales Bonner x Adidas spring-summer 2025 collection launches today via CONFIRMED.
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