A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF ADILETTE THE SHOWER SHOE THAT BECAME A FASHION ICON

Paralleling the rise of athleisure, the shower slide — and thus the Adilette — has gradually become more and more prolific over the decades. Again, this is due largely in part to celebrity influence, as figures such as Ye and even Mark Zuckerberg have helped bring these shower shoes out of the locker room.

Zuckerberg, though not quite as famous for his fashion tastes as the Louis Vuitton Don himself, has influenced an entire generation of would-be tech moguls, many of whom emulate the Meta founder’s simple attire down to his discontinued Santiossages. Ye has had a similar, albeit greater, effect on his drove of adoring fans, who diligently follow the artist’s every move. And in recent years, the Yeezy head has vocally celebrated the slide as fashion, wearing ones either too small or much too big and releasing the ever-popular Yeezy Slide.

Fashion labels both high-end and otherwise have also had a hand in shifting the paradigm. Gucci, for example, notably copied the Adilette, creating a premium knock-off that would go on to inspire some poetic lyricism from the likes of Future. Celine, Balenciaga, Dior, and many other fashion houses would create their own slides, turning them into an established piece of luxury.

Despite being at the center of the slide’s popularity, adidas has lost out to many of the brands above, as the culture would often flock to these high-end and streetwear-infused imitations. But in the year 2022, it seems the odds have shifted in the favor of the Three Stripes, and this is all thanks to one shoe in particular: the Adilette 22.