If any shoe can encapsulate the state of sneakers in 2025, my vote is on the adidas Taekwondo Mei Ballet. It is two of the biggest sneaker trends of the year, wrapped up into one low-profile sneaker. 

The adidas Taekwondo has recently emerged as a new flat-soled shoe being pushed by the German sportswear giant. And compared to adidas’ other thinly shaped sneaker models, like the Samba, it is especially low to the ground.

Just a slither of a sole unit emerges beneath the Taekwondo and, in the middle portion of the shoe, it disappears leaving the slim-shaped upper hovering above the ground. 

At a time when minimal sole units are ubiquitous, the adidas Taekwondo Mei Ballet is an extreme example of the low-profile sneaker movement. But that isn’t the only trend it is feeding into. 

Ballerina flats are another slender-shaped style currently booming in popularity.

The Taekwondo Mei Ballet kills two birds with one stone. Or rather, kills two microtrends with one tiny shoe. 

During a hybrid ballet sneaker boom, the adidas Taekwondo is the latest model to join the fun. And with so many other sneaker models doing the same, it felt like a matter of time before adidas' newly popularised low-profile sneaker also goes full balletcore.

Available now from adidas stores in Asia, the Taekwondo Mei Ballet is yet to arrive worldwide. 

While Bad Bunny’s adidas Taekwondo collaboration is also officially called a ballerina shoe, this is the only true pirouette-equipped version. It is a hybrid sneaker cleverly imbued with the essence of a ballet flat.