Slow And Steady: Song For The Mute Reworks The adidas Samba And SL 72 Pro

Song For The Mute is back with adidas, and this time the Australian label is bringing its signature slow-design approach to two proper heritage silhouettes. The Fall/Winter 2026 collection lands across the adidas Samba and the SL 72 Pro, six colorways in total, all leaning into muted tones and worn-in textures rather than anything shouty.

A Closer Look at the Song For The Mute x adidas 2026 Collection...

The collection reworks two silhouettes, the adidas Samba and the adidas SL 72 Pro, with three colorways apiece for six pairs in total. The headline feature is a collapsible heel on the Samba that flips the shoe into a slip-on. The collaboration first surfaced at Paris Fashion Week back in January, and while the broad strokes are locked in, exact release timing and pricing are still coming together, more on that further down.

Song For The Mute isn't a new face at adidas. The label previously reworked the Adistar Cushion, and it's built a reputation for turning out collaborations that feel considered rather than rushed. This one's no different.

The Samba Goes Slip-On

The standout move here is the heel. Song For The Mute has given the Samba a collapsible, crumpled heel that lets you stomp it down and wear the shoe as a slip-on, or lace it up properly when you want the full silhouette. It's a small tweak that changes how the shoe actually gets worn day to day.

The three colorways, black leather, brown and green, are all built from soft leather and suede overlays, with tonal stitching on the Three Stripes keeping the branding low-key. A traditional semi-translucent gum sole rounds it off, tying it back to the Samba's football roots.

A Rougher Ride For The SL 72 Pro

The SL 72 Pro gets an equally hands-on rework. Think a patchwork upper mixing woven fabric with suede panels, rope laces, and a deliberately weathered finish that looks like it's already had a season of wear. Underneath sits a chunky, stacked rocker midsole that gives the whole thing a proper retro-runner silhouette.

Colorways And Release Dates: Depends Who You Ask

Here's where it gets a little messy. Reports on the exact colorways and drop dates don't fully line up. SneakerNews points to white, mustard yellow and blue/off-white on the SL 72 Pro, built on a prototype upper with a Lightstrike midsole, and has the pair dropping as early as 18th September through the adidas app in the US. Hypebeast tells a different story, putting the SL 72 Pro in Collegiate Green, beige and off white, with a wider release landing 16th October via Song For The Mute and adidas.com.

Our best guess? These are likely separate drops through different channels or regions rather than one outlet simply getting it wrong. On pricing, only the SL 72 Pro has a number attached so far: US retail sits at $170, which works out to roughly £130 at current exchange rates. The Samba's price is still TBC on both sides of the Atlantic, and a firm UK release date hasn't been confirmed either. We'll update this page as soon as adidas locks those details in.

The collection isn't just about footwear either. Song For The Mute is bringing matching apparel along for the ride, with track jackets, trousers, shorts and tees cut in the same earthy, muted palette.

Six pairs, two silhouettes, one very deliberate design philosophy. Which one are you more excited about: the Samba's party trick, or the SL 72 Pro's rugged new look? Keep an eye on our release calendar for the confirmed drop date, browse more from the brand on our adidas page, and grab The Drop Date app so you're first in line when it lands.

IMAGE CREDITS: ADIDAS / SONG FOR THE MUTE