The discourse around trainers has escalated in recent years—and London-based designer Grace Wales Bonner has played a significant role in this shift. Through an ongoing collaboration with Adidas Originals, the designer has reworked several archive styles that have gone on to reach “cult status.” Among them: leopard pony hair and silver Sambas, both of which now fetch inflated mark-ups on resale sites. At the time of writing, they’re listed at upwards of $500 respectively on StockX (certain sizes are four figures), and have been endlessly duped by mass-market retailers.

The spring/summer 2025 collection, launching on May 28, is the first time Wales Bonner has debuted a completely original trainer design, the Karintha. Named after a character in Cane by Jean Toomer, it borrows details from classic Adidas silhouettes and those developed in Wales Bonner’s mainline collections.

Realised in a similar profile to the Jewel, a curvaceous Mary-Jane trainer worn by Zendaya on the cover of British Vogue’s May 2024 issue, the Karintha features the Three Stripe insignia and is available in sand-hued suede or covered in scaled sequins, with chocolate brown suede and satin accents. “Immersing myself in the Adidas archive over the last five years has led me to focus on certain craft elements,” Grace Wales Bonner tells Vogue. “So with this design, I wanted it to be rooted in that sensibility, while creating something contemporary and fresh.”

A croc-embossed Superstar was a standout shoe from last season’s drop, and the latest release introduces the Superstar Hi (a high-topped version), with the same recognizable shell toe cap, a thinner outsole and a suede upper with a perforated Three Stripe motif. This summer-ready collection also brings a new leather Adilette–a slider that’s become synonymous with off-duty style—with a crocheted strap handwoven in Brazil.

The ready-to-wear offering sees new interpretations of signature WB tracksuits, featuring popper and lace-up detailing and cargo pockets, as well as a crochet top, relaxed separates and suede bowling bags inspired by the intersection between city and coast. Grace explored nautical silhouettes this season through a contemporary lens, as she tells Vogue she focused on “how to refine and render them in a more expressive, city context.” The tracksuits and sequins will be a certain crowd-pleaser.

Wales Bonner X Adidas SS25 launches on the 28 May at Walesbonner.com, Adidas.com and selected retailers—shop a curated edit, below.