For Fall/Winter 2008, adidas Originals reintroduces the adidas Samba, one of the most recognizable adidas silhouettes, with the Originals Trefoil branding and packaging.

The first of the “Samba” all-round soccer shoes were launched in 1950, for better traction on ice, snow and frozen ground. Famous for over five decades, it went on to become the most sought-after indoor soccer shoe in the world and continues to be regarded as the classic all-round training shoe today. Adidas Originals celebrates the Samba in its vintage construction with this Fall/Winter season assortment, and reinterprets it, offering fresh color ways and contemporary executions on a perennial favorite.

Kicking off next month with its original black/white colorway, the Samba will roll out in several versions throughout the season, with a suggested retail price of $60. Different variations include vibrant colors and a translucent “ice” sole to modernize the original silhouette, as well as soccer-inspired colorblocking and suede executions with metallic gold stripes. Check out the full lineup of the 2008 collection of the Adidas Sambas after the jump.

The Micropacer first returned to the scene at the turn of the millennium and has made additional limited appearances, but this fall the shoe will return with an added silver snakeskin added to the toe cap. The shoe is not 100% like the original but is the perfect fit for those who can appreciate the shoe’s comfort as well as history. Photo from SneakersBR.

With Kobe and the Lakers in the NBA Finals this month, Adidas couldn’t have the timing better than they do to re-release the shoes Kobe wore as an 18 year old rookie. The Adidas Top Ten 2000, like the KB8 series, featured Feet You Wear technology that made a major impact for the brand that was struggling in the basketball category for a number of years.

Adidas has been hard at work bringing back many of the shoes Kobe wore including the (KB8 Crazy 8 ) and Kobe 1 (Crazy 1). Look for these to pop up this summer in the original Black/White colorway as well as many other colors. Pics from Jordan8420.

Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals is only hours away. Once again a major sporting event has been an influencer on which shoe to pick for Throwback Thursday. For this week, let’s rewind a decade to 1998 which in the fall saw the release of the Adidas KB8 II, Kobe’s second signature shoe.

Kobe wore the KB8 II in his third season in the NBA in the 1998-99 season that started late due to the NBA lockout. In the shoe Kobe displayed his growth as a player averaging 19.9 points, 5.3 boards, and 3.8 assists per game. Like the Adidas KB8, the shoe featured the Feet You Wear technology giving the wearer better stability, flexibility, and control on the court. Feet You Wear was the cushioning system of choice for Adidas Equipment shoes for the last half of the 1990’s, but unfortunately Adidas stopped producing shoes with the technology since shortly after the turn of the century.

Inventor Frampton Ellis came up with the idea and earned his first patent for an athletic shoe designed to limit ankle injuries by mimicking the bare foot. He licensed the technology to Adidas in 1994 and only 2 years later it was on the feet of Steffi Graf when she won the 1996 US Open. In 2001, Frampton Ellis claimed that he was not being paid proper royalties and chose to sue Adidas. A settlement was reached between the two sides and unfortunately Feet You Wear is something of the past.

Adidas has been bringing back many of the shoes Kobe wore while with Adidas slightly having to change the name from KB to “Crazy” and removing any images of him as well. So far we have seen the Crazy 8 (KB8), Crazy 1 (Kobe 1), and this summer Adidas is releasing many special colorways of the Top Ten 2000, the shoe Kobe wore in his rookie year. Check out a throwback photo of Kobe guarding Garnett while wearing these shoes as well as many more photos and throwback commercials after the jump.

This campaign will raise money to benefit a Boston charity in collaboration with the NBA Cares program when they sell for $1017 per pair. Let’s hope for the charity’s sake and NBA fans that the series stretches to 7. Look for the shoes tomorrow when Game 1 tips off. Pics and info thanks to Complex.

Adidas wasted no time to release a signature shoe for their new young star after seeing the success that Nike enjoyed with MJ and his signature shoe. The Adidas Attitude was Ewing’s signature shoe for the 1986 season that came in a wide variety of colors, but none quite as timeless as the these to match his Knicks uniform. The Attitude was a popular shoe not just on court, but was quickly adopted by the hip hop scene.

Back in the mid-80s like most of Adidas’s top basketball shoes, these were manufactured in France. The shoe has returned this decade in this color way as well as many others minus the Ewing logo on the tongue as Patrick left Adidas after only a few years to start his own line of shoes that we have featured on prior Throwback Thursday’s.

It is hard to show by photos just how well these shoes were made. The leather is incredibly thick and sturdy. Just like car buffs will tell you, “they sure don’t make them like they used to.”

Complex has an in depth feature on the Adidas Superstar spoken from the mouths of those who understand sneaker, art, and hip hop culture best. With video interviews including Yu-Ming of Sneaker News, Chris Vidal of Flight Club, DJ Neil Armstrong, Clinton Sprarks, and Gabe Urist, you can find out what truly makes a “superstar.”

Check out the feature at Complex.