Adam Cheung is a writer and editor who specialises in sneakers and streetwear. Over the past few years, he's curated features and guides for everyone from Burberry to Nike. Often travelling between the UK and Hong Kong, don't be too surprised if you find Adam anywhere else around the world taking street photography or feasting on the local delicacies.
At the start of every year, sneaker brands introduce a new trend that takes over the entire industry. And in 2025, it’s without a doubt been the cow print craze. Everyone from New Balance to Nike has tried it, but adidas has probably been doing it best with drops like the upcoming adidas SL 72 OG Cow Print W.
If you didn’t already know, the SL 72 OG is one of the oldest silhouettes in the German sportswear giant’s archives. First released in, you guessed it, ’72, it was introduced at the Munich Olympics and was considered a very advanced running shoe at the time. Last year, the sneaker was brought back, and since then we’ve been blessed with hyped collabs and fresh color combos – just like this one.
Unlike 97% of SL 72s, this version ditches the usual suede-on-mesh construction in favor of cow print pony hair that dominates the entire upper. Accented with Off White leather stripes and Court Green laces, it’s bold, playful, and guaranteed to turn heads. Shiny gold adidas branding is stitched on the tongue tag, and underfoot, the midsole is paired with a serrated gum sole as a nod to its running roots.
So, why is cow print trending so hard right now? In part, it’s the natural evolution of the animal print craze that’s cycled through leopard and zebra in past seasons. Cow print, though, is fresher, quirkier, and easier to style – it reads more ironic and tongue-in-cheek than high fashion, which makes it perfect for TikTok fits and streetwear rotations.
The adidas SL 72 OG Cow Print W is scheduled to release sometime in Fall 2025 via adidas and select retailers both online and in-store. The pair will be available in women’s sizing for $110. If you want a pair, make sure you download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more from across the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via adidas
