No one has accused the Adidas Taekwondo of maximalism, but a new version from one of the brand’s longest-running collaborators is stripping down the sneaker to even more bare elements.

The Stella McCartney x Adidas Taekwondo opts for stretchy knit upper with scant embellishments. Gone is the tongue and so too the Three Stripes, mustache and textured toe. A new series of TPU overlays give structure to the tonal sneaker, and dual-branding runs over the foot and repeats again on the insole. On the heel, you’ll find an added pull tab for easier entry.

Two different colorways have been made available to purchase, one whispering quiet luxury in tonal Almond Milk and the other speaking at a much greater volume in Semi Impact Orange.

Adidas just relaunched the Taekwondo last year, and by the first quarter of 2025 it took the spot as Lyst’s hottest sneaker and the second hottest product overall in the world. The sneaker with a barely there sole comes in a few builds, with laces and without, and its the latter version that’s built up the most steam. The laceless version has also been made with a flat sole and an even more minimalist construction targeting the forefoot and heel — and it’s that sparser look that’s been used for collaborations with Jeremy Scott, Bad Bunny, Kith and now Stella McCartney.

Bad Bunny’s Taekwondo, dubbed the Ballerina and which has its own transformations unique as Stella McCartney’s stripping down and Jeremy Scott’s hiking up as a sock boot, has also gotten an extra benefit by riding the ballet sneaker trend.

In-house at Adidas, the Taekwondo has gone through yet another metamorphosis catering to two simultaneous trends through the F50 soccer cleat mash-up. Adidas can also claim a chokehold on the flat sneaker movement with its Samba, Gazelle and SL ’72 all having major moments in the last several years.

So far, the Stella McCartney x Adidas Ballerina has only made a quiet appearance on Neiman Marcus’ website, but the sneaker will likely get a wider rollout quite soon. Pricing is set at $140.