Wales Bonner's Reviving a Historic adidas Running Shoe
Wales Bonner has dug through the adidas archives and brought back a record-breaking sneaker you’ve likely never heard of, the Neftenga.
A shoe that marathon running buffs will be well-acquainted with, the yellow-colored slimline running shoe was worn by Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie in 2008 when he ran the first-ever marathon under 2:04 hours (although only just, he completed the Berlin Marathon in 2:03:59).
The Neftenga was the first of the adidas Adizero running shoes, a line that has since helped runners achieve 12 more world records, and now it’s being brought back as a casual sneaker. It is Wales Bonner’s latest retro adidas sneaker project.
Wales Bonner is a good barometer of what adidas’ sneaker is set to be its next big hit.
The British-Jamaican fashion designer was influential in making the Samba a universally loved sneaker (a trend that reached as far as the ex-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom). She was also an early advocate of the Samba’s stylish successor the SL72. So, when Grace Wales Bonner resurrects the adidas Neftenga, history tells us we should take note.
The designer first presented the Neftenga as part of her Marathon-themed Spring/Summer 2024 collection over a year ago. Now, detailed images of the shoe have emerged with a reported release date of September 10.
The revamped running shoe, now offered with Wales Bonner branding and textured suede overlays, is making its debut in the hype-driven land of sneaker collaborations. And with old-school runners of a similar ilk being pushed by adidas currently, we might be seeing a lot more of the Neftenga to come.
