African Craft Heritage Slides

Clean the Sky - Positive Eco Trends & Breakthroughs

The Adidas Wales Bonner Adilette Slides Come in Two Hues

— May 31, 2025 — Fashion
The Adidas Wales Bonner Adilette Slides have made their debut from the sportswear brand as a new take on the brand's signature slide from Grace Wales Bonner that gives it a heritage-driven look and feel. The slides pay homage to African craft traditions and heritage, which is evident with their hand-woven leather upper that's crafted in Brazil. The slides also feature a full leather footbed that swaps out the EVA foam to give them a supple look and feel that elevates the otherwise standard footwear silhouette.

The Adidas Wales Bonner Adilette Slides are paired with a tire-inspired rubber sole that's described by Bonner as an homage to practice in many African communities to use old tires as shoe soles.

Image Credit: Adidas / Wales Bonner

Trend Themes

  1. Heritage-driven Fashion — The embrace of traditional African craft techniques in modern fashion items highlights a growing trend towards heritage-driven design aesthetics.
  2. Sustainable Footwear Materials — Utilizing materials like hand-woven leather and repurposed tire soles in footwear signifies a shift towards more sustainable and resource-conscious manufacturing processes.
  3. Luxury Athleisure — The transformation of casual slide footwear into a luxury item with premium materials reflects the continued convergence of high-end fashion and athletic wear.

Industry Implications

  1. Fashion and Apparel — The merging of traditional craftsmanship with modern design in fashion represents a novel domain for innovation and consumer engagement.
  2. Sustainable Manufacturing — Innovations in using sustainable and recycled materials in product creation are driving shifts within the manufacturing industry.
  3. Luxury Goods — The integration of cultural heritage and luxury elements in everyday items points to a promising expansion area for the luxury goods sector.
6.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness