New “Shackle Shoes” Nothing to do with Slavery says Adidas

Controversial “shackle shoes” canned after public furore

• Adidas scraps plans to launch “shackle shoes”
• Still insists design has “nothing to do with slavery”

Adidas has sparked outrage and been accused of ‘promoting slavery’ by creating a new pair of trainers which have bright orange ‘shackles’ that fit around the wearer’s ankles.

The clothing giant is reeling under a public relations backlash after it was forced to scrap plans to launch a new pair of trainers that many have compared to the devices worn by black slaves in 19th Century America.

Originally posted by Adidas Originals on its Facebook page, the Jeremy Scott x adidas Roundhouse Mid “Handcuffs” are an updated version of Adidas’ classic Roundhouse, a high-top lace-up with a Velcro strap across the middle.

For his latest collaboration with the athletic label, designed Jeremy Scott has added a plastic handcuff (or shackle, if you will) to each ankle, attached by chains.

Initially it was met with disbelief, then fury, as public outrage exploded over the shoe that evoked African slavery.

Despite the uproar, Adidas insist that the shoes have nothing to do with slavery.

Adidas told The Huffington Post:

“The design of the JS Roundhouse Mid is nothing more than the designer Jeremy Scott’s outrageous and unique take on fashion and has nothing to do with slavery.

Jeremy Scott is renowned as a designer whose style is quirky and lighthearted and his previous shoe designs for adidas Originals have, for example, included panda heads and Mickey Mouse.

Any suggestion that this is linked to slavery is untruthful.”

Fuckn morons.