In a 2024 game of "I Spy," Adidas Sambas would have been the easiest pair of sneakers to spot. But by 2025, rarer models stepped up in the rankings.
All year, celebrity sneakerheads traded best-sellers for pairs only recognized by eagle-eyed enthusiasts (or Google Image Search). "Styles like Adidas Sambas or Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 may be fan favorites, but they are also everywhere," StockX's Brendan Dunne, senior director of customer community and engagement, tells me over email. "That ubiquity pushed consumers to seek out new releases that have yet to see widespread adoption, or exclusive styles that feel more unique."
