adidas Handball Spezial sneakers in green suede and mesh with a gum sole

About this model

adidas introduced the Handball Spezial in 1979 for handball players, as a shoe for the indoor court. It got a full suede upper so the foot could move freely, a reinforced heel cap to protect it and a gum rubber outsole for traction. To this day adidas names the suede upper and the T-shaped toe box as the details that define it.

According to adidas, it didn't take long for the style to carry the shoe off the court, and it quickly became a favourite with style fans around the world. In the 1980s football fans in Britain took it up, often in their club's colours, and it became part of the casuals look on the terraces. By the 1990s it was on stage with Oasis, next to Stone Island jackets. A second wave came in the 2020s, partly because it looks so close to the Samba and the Gazelle, and partly through TikTok and Instagram, where influencers and celebrities wore it. In September 2023 a collaboration with Sporty & Rich brought a version in vintage colours.

Today it counts as a lifestyle shoe rather than a sports shoe, and the current version keeps the suede upper, the T-shaped toe and the gum sole. There is also a version made in Germany, with a leather upper and a soft lining, and it leaves the gum sole and the T-shaped toe untouched. adidas describes the fit as regular and advises taking your usual size.

Sources: adidas.co.il · Wikipedia · Highsnobiety