Adidas "Shackle" Sneakers Create Controversy

A new Adidas sneaker has sparked outrage, with sneaker fans accusing the brand of promoting racism. The Roundhouse Mid "Handcuff" shoe, created by controversial New York designerJeremy Scott, features a plastic orange shackle that attaches to each ankle. The $350 sneakers hit stores in August, but Adidas promoted them on their official Facebook page on June 14 with this quote: "Tighten up your style with the JS Roundhouse Mids, dropping in August. Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?" While the brand may be making a cheeky statement about shoe theft, many are equating these binding devices with slavery and prisoners. At press time the "Handcuff" sneaker image has over 36,000 Facebook likes, but many of the comments are angry and disapproving. 


Jeremy Scott's Adidas Wings shoes are a celebrity favorite. Photo courtesy of Adidas"Please tell me this is FAKE. I am not hearing these Adidas Amistad Originals," one woman commented on Facebook, referencing the ship famous for an African slave revolt in 1839. One man is prepared to boycott the brand out of respect to his African heritage. "I for one will NEVER don another pair of Adidas if these shoes see the light of day in the sneaker market," he wrote. One Facebook user reasoned that "corporate business has a social responsibility above all to consider these perceptions before releasing a product like this." Another flabbergasted person wondered, "This has to be some sort of prank right?" Others simply called the design "ignorant" and the look "slavewear."

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Some fans point out the popular '80s toy, My Pet Monster wore similar orange handcuffs. But the reactions weren't all negative. One guy viewed the handcuff as a creative and lighthearted design component. "I just see this as a shoe so fly you better chain em to ya!" Several commenters said the shoes reminded them of the popular '80s toy My Pet Monster who wore identical orange plastic handcuffs. Many said they weren't offended by the shoe, but still felt they were ugly. 


For those unfamiliar with Jeremy Scott, his designs for his own collection and his Adidas partnership are typically surprising and unusual. Previous designs for Adidas have included shows with playful plush teddy bear heads and leopard tails, giant wings, and even miniature tuxedos. Madonna, Kanye West, Beyoncé, and Rihanna are all avid Jeremy Scott fans. Some may dislike his outrageous designs, but the new "Handcuffs" model is the first one to ever be dubbed offensive. Initial images debuted in January on blogs like SneakerNews.com without any criticism, but the Adidas Facebook post made the shoe a larger public issue. The sneaker controversy is still ongoing with over 2,000 Facebook comments along with many websites and bloggers discussing their unique perspectives.