Wales Bonner unveiled her new collaboration with adidas in Paris

Wales Bonner' new SS24 men's collection, Marathon, presented last night during Paris Fashion Week, celebrated the world of running as only the brand can do: with a new pair of adidas. Although the designer is now known in the industry for her extensive Samba line created in collaboration with the German sports brand, this time she opted for the Neftanga, the sneaker worn by the Ethiopian Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie at the Berlin Marathon in 2008, the year of his fourth victory in a row and his new world record.

Wales Bonner SS24

Wales Bonner SS24

Wales Bonner SS24

Wales Bonner SS24

Wales Bonner SS24

Wales Bonner SS24

Haile Gebrselassie alla Maratona di Berlino, 2008

Apparently, Grace Wales Bonner's decision to bring this sneaker back into fashion seems to be purely linked to the designer's passion for the history of sport and her athletes - so much so that she invited Gebrselassie to the fashion show - but in truth, the very name of the sneaker, Neftanga, hides an interesting secret: the term was in fact historically used in a denigrating way by the Ethiopian elite group of Tigrè to refer to the fellow villager population of the Amhara. Characterized by a more structured silhouette than the Samba, the Neftanga are in all respects running shoes, composed of a sole with cushioning pads whose line follows a slender design around the sneaker and a bright yellow colourway. Whether this design will also reach sneaker cult status like the Samba is yet to be discovered; for all those who prefer more sedentary hobbies than running, Wales Bonner has also collaborated with Ugg on a pair of soft loafers, perfect for those who love to lounge around.