Beauty & Youth Brings Their Minimalist Vision To The adidas Samba LT

Some collaborators are identifiable from a thousand foot view — think A Ma Maniere’s monopoly on certain desaturated tones or Cactus Plant Flea Market’s outlandish designs. Some work out of the exact opposite school of thought. An arm of Japanese imprint United Arrows, Beauty and Youth has fit the latter category to a tee, in their work with New Balance, ASICS, PUMA, and their foremost partner, adidas.

Now stepping in a trendy direction by picking out the adidas Samba, Beauty and Youth is barely identifiable in this design, refusing the typical dose of co-branding that most collaborators take almost as a formality. Indeed, the off-white Three Stripes and heel cup are essentially the only pieces here you could identify as being a bit out of adidas’ inline register, but steady burgundy and an everlasting gum sole still imbue classic sensibilities into this pair. Interestingly, Beauty and Youth utilizes the Long Tongue build of the Samba, making for an interesting lineage if you work back: Wales Bonner popularizes the on-pitch touch, in turn adopted by the Three Stripes for general releases, then available for the Japanese imprint to put their own spin on things.

The Beauty and Youth adidas Samba LT is available now via the brand’s Japanese site. Sadly for our stateside readership, all indications point to this remaining exclusive to the island nation. Even if you can’t pick up a pair directly, judge whether you’ll seek one out via aftermarket means with the official images included below.

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