First released as a football shoe in the fifties, Adidas sambas now rub shoulders with the likes of Dr Martens 1460s and Converse Chuck Taylors as one of the most popular shoes of its kind.
Regular refreshes have helped the shoe to continuously top wish lists, from a limited-edition leopard print style (that sold out at lightning speed), to collaborations with Wales Bonner. With Adidas featuring in Simone Rocha’s London Fashion week show, the brand’s familiar sporty style and branding is a trend staple that’s likely here to stay in 2026.
A popular twist on the samba, last year, Adidas’s cow print style sambas sold out in a day (but have since been re-stocked). They don’t come cheap, at around £100, but we’ve spotted remarkably similar-looking pair, from none other Clarks, meaning you can shop the look for less.
The footwear stalwart’s seco speed trainers are usually priced at £60 but have been reduced to £30 – a fraction of the cost of the sambas, while donning similar design features (even an Adidas-adjacent diagonal stripe).
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the cow print Samba alternative.
Read more: Best stylist-approved supermarket fashion, from George to F&F
Clarks seco speed cow print
Currently half price, Clarks’s take on the cow print trend will set shoppers back just £30. Featuring a light brown and white cow print design, the lace-ups have a leather upper, a padded collar and a rubber sole that it says provides grip, durability and impact absorption.
Buy now £30, Clarks.com
Adidas sambas
Instantly recognisable as the iconic Adidas bestseller, the Adidas cow print sambas feature a leather upper, gum soles and the brand’s three stripe branding. A fun twist on a classic that jumped on the Western-inspired trend at the time, the cow print is a playful take that’ll add quirky flair to an outfit.
Layer it with other prints if you’re going for loud and playful, or opt for simplicity and take notes from Dakota Johnson, who paired a cow print pair of Adidas Taekwondo trainers with blue denim and a camel trenchcoat. Similarly, you can also opt for a cow print design with red detailing (£100, Adidas.co.uk).
Buy now £102, Asos.com
Looking for more wardrobe inspiration? These are the five London Fashion Week trends to add to your wardrobe
