adidas Stan Smith – THE timeless classic

The word "timeless" is used quite often in the fashion world, but there are only a few products whose design and purpose have actually stood the test of time. And the Stan Smith is without a doubt one of them. Many other brands have tried to copy its minimal aesthetic, but even after more than 55 years, the Court classic hasn't lost any of its iconic character.

What many don't even know: The origins of the Stan Smith go back to adidas' Robert Haillet. To tell this story from the beginning, let's travel back to the 60's. Adidas was just fresh into the tennis business and signed French tennis player Robert Haillet in 1964. Haillet got his own tennis shoe and caused quite a sensation with it. But by 1971, Robert Haillet retired from the tennis business and adidas had to find a player to support an updated version of the shoe.

The birth of the Stan Smith

Donald Dell, probably the most influential tennis representative in the industry at the time, suggested the American Stan Smith to adidas. Smith was one of the rising tennis stars from the USA at the time. With his own shoe, he could once again emphasize his position in the tennis world. The classic version had a thin tongue with Stan Smith's portrait and signature. The typical green heel tab featured the traditional adidas trefoil logo with "Stan Smith" written underneath. At the time, probably no one realized that this partnership would probably become one of the biggest and most successful in the history of the sneaker.

But let's go back in time again. In 1978, the shoe was first officially changed to the name adidas Stan Smith. After that, sales reached a new high. Everyone started wearing Stan Smiths, even his opponents. But like any hype, the hype around the Stan Smith was over at some point. With the development of sneaker technology in the 80s, the Stan Smith slowly disappeared from the tennis courts. Off the court, however, the cult shoe celebrated its second spring. The adidas Stan Smith was the perfect fashionable shoe that you could wear anytime and anywhere.

The Fall and Rise of a Sneaker Icon

In late 2011, adidas executives met with Smith and Dell to tell them that production of Stan Smiths would be stopped for 2012 and 2013. For Smith, it was a minor setback. But this smart move by adidas would prove to be a major comeback. On January 14, 2014, the brand with the three stripes released the Stan Smith again to great fanfare. To accompany it, adidas even sent personalized pairs to stars like Pharrell Williams and Ellen DeGeneres. Following the re-release, a slew of new Stan Smith colors began to emerge - including versions with updated technology like the popular Primeknit material and Boost soles.

Along with the new technologies and colors, adidas also brought Stan Smith's iconic mustache to the shoe. At the time, the picture was taken when Smith had briefly parted with his magnificent schnorres. In 2014, a Stan Smith Vulc sneaker from the adidas Skateboarding range paid Stan Smith the respect he deserved with a fat oversize moustache.

adidas Stan Smith – pop culture canvas

Thanks to its simple and clean silhouette, the Stan Smith is literally a canvas for pop culture. From David Bowie's 1977 press photos to the Perry Boys and Naomi Campbell's 1993 cover shoot for The Face, the Stan Smith has been picked up by a number of fashion-conscious individuals and subcultures throughout its life, even being used in the lyrics of Jay-Z and A$AP Rocky. No wonder why celebrities and designers like Pharrell Williams, Raf Simons and Yohji Yamamoto have repeatedly created their own interpretation of the Stan Smith. And the list of collaborations gets longer every year: Human Made, HER Studio London or Swarovski are just some of the big names.

adidas Stan Smith x Stella McCartney – A sign for the environment

There is one collabo we want to highlight again: British designer Stella McCartney is known for her commitment to a more sustainable fashion industry. With two Stan Smith models now on the market, the designer has launched the tennis classic as a vegan version. Free of animal materials and environmentally conscious production make this shoe special. And adidas is also focusing on more sustainability with other Stan Smith models. Models like the adidas Stan Smith »Clean Classic« or the Stan Smith from the »Our Icons Go Vegan«-Reihe series rely on more sustainable materials and are completely vegan.

Stan Smiths for everyone!

A sneaker like the adidas Stan Smith is probably rare in the history of sneakers. Like hardly any other shoe, the cult sneaker is a real all-time favorite and absolutely timeless thanks to its simple silhouette. Whether women or men - everyone can interpret the Stan Smith for themselves. From gaudy colors like red or green to classic white. As a Velcro version or with a Bold sole.

Chic business outfit or casual everyday look? With the adidas Stan Smith there are no limits. That's why the Stan Smith can't be missing as a children's version. With collaborations like Star Wars or Mickey Mouse, you can also inspire your kids with the Stan Smiths.

How does the adidas Stan Smith fit?

The adidas Smith fits normal, true to size. With your normal adidas size you are always on the safe side.