Whether it’s Adidas Sambas adding a spunky touch to your outfit, an Owala bottle that offers a mindless sip, or a translucent NeeDoh cube in your hand, Latin is surrounded by Gen-Z essentials. These products are a statement of how you move, hydrate, and unwind in a school that is always on the go.
Adidas Sambas
The shoe was invented in 1949 for soccer players to train on icy, hard ground. Since then, the Samba has risen beyond the world of soccer, becoming a staple for millennials and Gen-Z alike. Celebrity stars Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and ASAP Rocky have all been spotted sporting the iconic shoe. These shoes have taken the Latin footwear scene 10 toes down.
Adidas Sambas are low-top sneakers featuring a trefoil, a foldable tongue, and three classic stripes symbolizing Adidas’s core values: performance, design, and craftsmanship.
Junior Laila Ciaccio said, “It’s classic and timeless.” She bought a black and white pair and usually pairs it with jeans. “[The Adidas Sambas are] something interesting to add to my outfit when I want to be a bit more dressed up,” she added.
Owala Water Bottle
(Mickey O’Malley )
Owala water bottles
The Owala FreeSip took the internet by storm and only started gaining popularity in mid-2023. With a ceramic body and pop-up lid sold in numerous color combinations, the vibrant Owala bottle can be spotted all over Latin.
While Owala’s spiritual predecessor, the Stanley Cup, had previously been Latin’s water bottle of choice, Owala bottles have proven more functional without sacrificing style.
Freshman Elia Stojka said, “The Owala has a locking lid which makes the Owala leakproof, unlike the Stanley bottles.”
Longchamp Le Pliage
Longchamp, a French leather goods company founded in Paris in 1948, debuted the Le Pliage collection in 1993. It is a light, durable bag that can be folded and unfolded in four simple steps, inspired by origami, the Japanese art of paper folding.
The most distinguishing part is its flap and handles made from Russian leather. The trendiest among the students is the shoulder bag, in a medium or large. For a more personalized look, the bags can be customizable in various patterns and colors.
“It’s very different from a backpack,” junior Charlie Wolin said. “The fact that it’s only one pocket means that I’m more intentional about what I’m bringing to school, so I’m not putting random things in my bag.”
NorthFace Backpack
After Gathering, mounds of identical NorthFace backpacks line the Upper School’s hallways.
“I didn’t get the black one [backpack] because often people mix it up with someone else’s,” sophomore Sophia Jacinto said. “The only bad thing about a pink coral backpack is that it can get dirty quickly.”
The most common models seen throughout the school are the Jester and the Borealis. The Jester backpack offers a padded laptop sleeve, a simplified compartment, and a stand-up design. The Borealis is similar but has more capacity and is bulkier.
“My NorthFace [Jester] backpack fits a lot of stuff. It fits my water bottle [and] my notebook fine,” Sophia said.
NeeDoh Nice Cube
The NeeDoh is a square, semi-transparent squishy toy filled with soft and stretchy gel-like material. It comes in three translucent colors: pink, purple, and blue. The ice cube can be stretched, smushed, and squeezed, and it returns to its square shape. Its squishy satisfaction is a big hit among students seeking stress relief.
“I take out my NeeDoh when I'm watching a video or when a teacher is writing on the board during class because it helps me concentrate,” sophomore Channing Giese said. “They break easily, but you can just get another one because they’re only five dollars.”
The array of essentials found at Latin, from the stylish Sambas, vibrate Owala bottles, minimalist Le Pliage shoulder bags to the functional NorthFace backpacks and the stress-releasing NeeDoh Cube, showcases the blend of functionality and means of personal style of the Latin community. In a world where practicality and self-expression go hand in hand, these items are more than accessories—they are indispensable icons in the modern world of Gen-Z.
Illustrations by Jacob Hooker
