Thoughts on the banned Adidas "shackle" sneaker

[spreadeagle]

pic if you hit the link http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/19...slavery-claims

Adidas has pulled its new shackle-style sneakers after critics called them racist and reminiscent of slavery.

The purple suede shoes were made in collaboration with fashion designer Jeremy Scott and feature orange plastic leg cuffs.

The JS Roundhouse Mids, first advertised on the company's Facebook page Thursday, have garnered thousands of both positive and negative comments.

"Shoes with shakles? This is so wrong and sad. It is 2012 (sic)," Dee Buck posted on the company's Facebook page Tuesday.

Some called for a boycott of the company.

Adidas said in a statement Monday night that the design "is nothing more than the designer Jeremy Scott's outrageous and unique take on fashion and has nothing to do with slavery."

"Since the shoe debuted on our Facebook page ahead of its market release in August, Adidas has received both favourable and critical feedback."

Scott's previous designs include footwear with panda heads and Mickey Mouse.

"We apologize if people are offended by the design and we are withdrawing our plans to make them available in the marketplace."

War on Want, a U.K.-based charity for international workers rights, said the sneakers are exploitative.

"An odd choice of shoes when you consider that workers making Adidas clothes around the world are paid poverty wages, (and) have little or no job security...," the charity posted on Facebook.

[D12 fan]

If I was Drose/Dwight I would leave for Nike.

[Raps08-09 Champ]

You were watching PTI, weren't you?

[utl768]

such an overreaction

btw no one complained when nike released the jordan 20 with the same style

http://5.kicksonfire.net/wp-content/...-black-02a.jpg

[Ray_R]

People are to damn soft these days. Everything and anything can be racist.

[smiddy012]

This isn't necessarily racist, just incredibly stupid on Adidas' part. Someone should be fired at Adidas due to their ignorance. Reminds me of the "chink in the armor" incident.

[BigBlueCrew]

Whoever thought this design was a good idea is a complete idiot.

[D12 fan]

Whoever thought this design was a good idea is a complete idiot.

Finally we agree.

[IgglesFanInCO]

not even racist.... offensive, possibly, but this is in no way racist in it of itself

I would wear em, those are legit

[951sucscock4fun]

my thoughts are we fans should stop buying nba memorabilla until the nba is no longer fixed due to david sterns antics

[Eagles710]

roflmao lmao lmao... i think there funny

[smiddy012]

my thoughts are we fans should stop buying nba memorabilla until the nba is no longer fixed due to david sterns antics

My thoughts are that people who believe Stern "fixes" the NBA are either over-zealous Laker fans or complete wack-jobs. Claiming the NBA is fixed is along the lines of claiming that the American Government perpetrated the destruction of the WTC or that the moon landing was a hoax. Incredibly stupid theories believed by incredibly stupid people.

[pd1dish]

in no way is this racist. idk how it has anything to do with slavery. all it reminds me of are prisoners in jail especially since they wear those orange jumpsuits, same color as the shackles on the shoe. this is just and overreaction, but i dont expect anything less in such a politically correct society.

even though i dont think theyre racist, it was a good idea taking them off the shelves. these shoes are hideous and idk what idiot would buy them. the only bigger idiots are the guys that came up with the idea and approved it.

[Raps08-09 Champ]

Don't think it was meant to be racist. But the designer obviously should have known the backlash they would have gotten.

[AntiG]

**** was retarded