Adidas has defended its new JS Roundhouse Mid sneaker design, which has come under fire for its shackle detail.

The Adidas sneaker has been criticized for featuring shackles in its design, with many claiming that the details are an allusion to slavery.

The JS Roundhouse Mid Sneakers feature wide orange ankle shackles and chains, causing many bloggers and Facebook users to allege that the shackles are the same as those worn by African slaves. Adidas has refuted any such suggestions, however, stressing that the design has no such heritage: it is merely the aesthetic whim of designer, Jeremy Scott.

“The design of the JS Roundhouse Mid is nothing more than the designer Jeremy Scott’s outrageous and unique take on fashion and has nothing to do with slavery,” said an Adidas spokesperson. “Any suggestion that this is linked to slavery is untruthful.”

The sportswear brand posted photos of the sneaker on its Facebook page on Thursday (June 14), and caused a wave of online criticism, forcing Adidas to remove the offending pictures. The shoe is set for release in August 2012.

As reported by YoRaps

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