Adidas Pulls ‘Shackle’ Sneakers

Can Adidas kick it? The footwear company pulled a line of sneakers equipped with plastic ankle-cuff ‘shackles’ joined to the shoes by a short chain. The shoe drew criticism for its resemblance to equipment used to restrain slaves. Adidas at first defended the shoes, saying they were not an intentional allusion to any form of compulsory labor. “Any suggestion that this is linked to slavery is untruthful,” the company said in a statement defending the design by Jeremy Scott. Yet hours later, the company was saying it would nix the kicks. Adidas still stands by the design, in a statement calling it “Jeremy Scott’s outrageous and unique take on fashion.”