Why the Adidas Taekwondo is fashion's new sneaker obsession

The soccer-inspired Samba has a new successor as the It sneaker of the season. Enter the Adidas Taekwondo, a slim silhouette designed exactly for what its name suggests (though it looks pretty cool styled with jeans and dresses, too). The Taekwondo originally debuted in the early 2000s as a style for martial arts athletes.

Fittingly, it has a sleek look: A narrow, fitted upper with a gum outsole that offers flexible movement. To put it into fashion terms, it’s now the antidote to the chunky Dad sneaker trend that dominated for years.

Celebrities, fashion editors, and influencers are embracing the style, showing off its versatility as it lends itself to quirky, casual, and even fashion-forward looks. The sneakers were seen on the street style set throughout fashion week, and Jennifer Lawrence has been spotted out walking in New York wearing the shoe a handful of times already this year, styling it with flared pants and a duffle coat.

Slimmer, retro-style silhouettes continue their rise in 2025, with iterations by luxury labels Miu Miu and Dries van Noten leading the trend. The Taekwondo silhouette dovetails with this trend, bringing an athletic touch while still looking minimal. Among Adidas’s slimmer, sleek offerings that are equally gaining traction are the Tokyo and Japan styles, which are worth considering, too, as you shop for new spring sneakers.

Whether you prefer Taekwondo’s soft, foot-hugging shape, the ballet-sneaker iteration, the easy slip-on version, or other low-cut styles from Adidas, these are the ones to shop.

Lead image: Courtesy of Adidas, Getty Images, @aki__ishibashi