The 1979 indoor classic loses its laces in a lineup spanning Core Black to leopard print, signalling adidas’s clearest push yet into the dress-sneaker category.

Adidas Originals has expanded its Handball Spezial Loafer program, moving beyond the initial black release into a six-colorway lineup that includes Magic Beige, Core Black, Dark Brown, Aurora Cocoa, Maroon, and a pony-hair leopard print. The shoe reworks the brand’s 1979 indoor handball silhouette into a laceless, slip-on construction, marking one of adidas’s most deliberate entries into the loafer-sneaker hybrid category that has gained traction across the footwear industry over the past year.

The design retains the model’s identifying details while shifting its posture from athletic to formal. A one-piece suede or leather upper replaces the original’s paneled construction, split by a moccasin-style toe seam. The serrated Three Stripes appear in contrasting leather along the side, subtler than on the standard Handball Spezial, while a metallic Trefoil pin and piped toe detailing supply the finishing touches. A strap across the forefoot and a full leather lining complete the build, with each colorway pairing a gum or dark-toned sole depending on the finish.

Construction varies by colorway. The Core Black edition favours a smooth leather upper for a more formal read, while the Magic Beige and Dark Brown options use suede for a softer, more casual finish. The release places adidas alongside Nike, Converse, and New Balance, each of which has introduced comparable loafer conversions of established sneaker silhouettes over the past year. Industry observers note that the category’s staying power now rests on whether brands can sustain it beyond a single seasonal drop, a question the Handball Spezial Loafer’s six-colorway rollout appears designed to answer.

Adidas has not confirmed a unified global release date, with colorways rolling out in phases through retailers over the course of the year.