Adidas Handball Spezial, often referred to as just Adidas Spezial, is a line of shoes released by Adidas. As the name implies, the shoe was originally designed to be used in handball but has since transitioned to a lifestyle shoe.[1]
The shoe was designed by Gary Aspden and released in 1979. The shoe features a full suede upper to allow smooth mobility, an enhanced heel cap to protect the foot, and a special sole that closely resembles a cleat to give it better traction.[2] The shoe became popular by professional players for its performance and got noticed when a large amount of players used it during the World Handball Championships.[3]
Outside the sport, the shoe became a popular fashion item in the United Kingdom during the 80s with many football fans wearing them, often in the same colors of their favorite football clubs. The shoe had a second wave of popularity in the 2020s thanks in part to its similarities with Adidas' other shoes, the Adidas Samba and Adidas Gazelle. The shoe was brought into the spotlight thanks to social media sites like TikTok and Instagram with many popular influencers and celebrities donning the shoe as fashion items.[4]
