Adilette

The epitome of vintage: the adidas Adilette

The adidas Adilette is probably the best-known flip-flops and symbolizes the vintage look like hardly any other product: we are talking about the adidas Adilette.

We know them from our parents, who wore them to the swimming pool or campsite decades ago. The typical image of tasteless men with moustaches, horn-rimmed glasses, mullets, cotton undershirts and the nation-dividing look of white socks in Adilettes has also somehow burned itself into our heads. Adolf Dassler simply wanted to create a practical shoe for athletes and not set a new trend for the Ugly Fashio wave, which has been hyped again for several years.

Today, the Adilette is a cult item and has even become a designer piece thanks to numerous collabos - you simply can't get more hype than that. In this article, we take you behind the scenes of the famous flip-flops.

The origins of the adidas flip-flops

It was simply a very pragmatic idea that Adi Dassler had when designing the first Adilette: in the early sixties, the idea of designing a non-slip shoe for athletes that could be worn both in the changing room and in the shower first came up. At that time, players were not yet familiar with the luxury of eucalyptus steam baths, Finnish saunas or detoxifying mud packs - after the game, it was off to the communal shower with the Duschdas 2 in 1! And it was neither clean nor hygienically safe, so the players wanted a tool in the fight against athlete's foot and the like - the chance of the Adilette. However, the slippers didn't come onto the market until the 1972 Olympic Games, when Adi Dassler finally found a machine that could inject the foam into a free form. With this technology, the Adilette was born - Germany's most famous bathing shoe!

And of course, the Adilette was not only practical, but also comfortable: the shape of the footbed was adapted to the human foot and the foam provided the ideal contrast to the cleated shoe. Some players simply left their Adilettes on after a shower for an interview or team photo - and a new hype was created in a flash. Thanks to their appearance in trendy fashion magazines and the new trend of the white Adilette with a wedding dress, they now enjoy the reputation of a fashion icon and belong in the closets of all fashionistas. Everyone wants these practical slippers - and the trend seems to be here to stay.

Popular versions of the Adilette

After the Adilette triumphed in swimming pools, campsites and all-inclusive hotels, nicknames such as the "Asilette" and cheap knock-off versions such as the "Aldilette" began to circulate. But since the summer fairytale World Cup and the cult of public viewing, the Adilette has also made its way back into - or rather to - the common people.

In the beginning, the Adilette was only at home in the men's world - today, the variants of the Adilette for female fans are at least as popular. Numerous hyped colorways and selected collabs have not only rehabilitated the slippers, but elevated them to a whole new league.

The most comfortable versions

In addition to the classic Shower Adilettes with the non-slip sole and pre-shaped footbed, the waterproof model for the shower or swimming pool is also available as a Comfort version. They are equipped with an EVA outsole and are easy to wear. Even longer walks through the city are no problem thanks to the synthetic strap with a soft textile lining. The Boost Adilette goes one step further: it comes with an ultra-soft sole that even makes the shoe suitable for everyday wear thanks to the Boost cushioning. An extra soft version is the Adidas Lite, which provides additional cushioning thanks to the thicker sole. It really doesn't get any more comfortable than this!

Special Adilettes

Stylish Adilettes for women are also available in a trendy beach look with a cork footbed and polka dots on the synthetic strap. The rubber outsole ensures that you can really wear this version anywhere.

Of course, the classic Shower Adilette is most popular with men. But we're also seeing more and more of the TDN Adilette: with its Velcro fastening, retro colorways and slanted stripes, it exudes an extra vintage feel.

The latest design from Adidas is currently the Adilette 22. Inspired by 3D topography and marine expeditions, this version has an absolutely futuristic look like the Yeezy Slides. It is made from sustainable synthetics and also features EVA cushioning, a quarter of which is made from sugar cane. This version is the latest hype and definitely too good for the pool!

adidas Yeezy Slides

Of course, Kanye West also has his finger in the pie when it comes to cool and stylish slides. The adidas Yeezy Slides are definitely among the most stylish "adilettes" and are particularly popular in the fashion scene. If you're looking for the latest models, you can find all the old and new colorways of the iconic slipper silhouette on this page.

What's behind the hype surrounding the adidas slippers?

First of all, we take our hats off to the Adilette - not everyone can pull off such an image switch from fine rib cotton sock slippers to THE fashion piece par excellence! Whether it's Pharrell Williams, Alexander Wang or the collaboration with designer Jeremy Scott and the plush upper - the Adilette is in demand like never before.

But the regular colorways are also impressive. Whether classic in black or dark blue, they are also available in fresh styles such as pastel shades, bright colors or with polka dots. The Adilette is even worn for weddings in white with silver or gold stripes - there is probably no color combination that an Adilette can't do!

The classic Adilette, like the other adidas models, is true to size. However, there are also some models that are slightly smaller. For example, the strap is soft and comfortable, but also cut a little tighter to ensure support.

To ensure the necessary comfort, adidas uses synthetic materials. However, the inner lining of the strap is made of textile, which ensures a pleasant feel. And of course, adidas also follows the idea of sustainability here and uses recycled or natural materials - as with the Lite or the Adilette 22.

So the hype surrounding the Adilette has nothing to do with an elaborate design or unusual materials. It's simply a comfortable and absolutely practical shoe that has become an absolute cult object thanks to the ugly fashion trend and its eighties flip-flop image: the Adilette used to be simply practical, today it's a style icon and an absolute must-have for all fashion fans!

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