Bob Marley Finally Gets Official adidas Sneaker – See Photos
adidas is set to release its first official sneaker celebrating Reggae legend Bob Marley.
Initially intended to coincide with the ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ biopic in February, the ‘Bob Marley x Adidas SL 72 ‘One Love” has faced significant delays. However, adidas has now confirmed an October 15 release date, marking a significant moment for both the sportswear giant and the Marley estate.
The special edition SL 72 — priced at $100 but expect to pay more on release — features a black suede and leather upper and a tri-colored red, green, and gold sole—a clear nod to the Rastafarian colors synonymous with Marley’s image.
adidas has also incorporated several unique details that could transform this footwear into a collector’s item, including a black-and-white image of Marley adorning the tongue; Marley’s signature is elegantly embossed in gold on the heel; and a co-branded graphic with “adidas” and “Bob Marley” repeating alongside each other in the insole.
Marley’s granddaughter and daughter to Ziggy Marley, Zuri, had first revealed the new shoe in a TikTok video earlier this year.
The SL 72 running shoes were introduced in 1972 for the Munich Summer Olympics. Dubbed “superlight” because of their lightness in both name and nature, the shoes quickly became an icon for world-class athletes seeking speed and agility on the track. More recently, they’ve been getting “buzz” from celebrities like Suki Waterhouse and Alexa Chung on social media.
Marley rocked the SL72 in a 1976 photo, which may have inspired the new colorway.
In fact, the Reggae legend’s connection to adidas runs deep. Throughout his life, he was frequently photographed wearing the brand’s apparel, from their signature three-striped tracksuits to bold T-shirts that complemented his effortless style.
While this marks Adidas’ first official collaboration with the Marley estate, it’s not the brand’s first foray into Marley-inspired shoes and products.
In winter 2020, adidas released a Marley-themed fashion line, and in 2021, they produced an away kit for AFC Ajax based on Marley’s beloved song Three Little Birds, which included the ‘adidas Samba OG Ajax Bob Marley’ sneaker.
The adidas brand was created by Adolf “Adi” Dassler, a German shoemaker in August 1949. The name came from Adi and Das, the first 3 letters from the first name and last name of its creator. Later on, the company conjured up the “All day I dream about sports” as the meaning for adidas, as promotional slogan.
Adi, who was the younger brother of Rudolf Dassler, founder of Puma, was born in Herzogenaurach, Germany in November 1900, and died there in 1978 at the age of 77.
Still headquartered in Herzogenaurach, adidas specializes in the design and manufacture of shoes, clothing and accessories and is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, and the second largest in the world, after the American company, Nike.