Born on the hardwood and immortalized in the streets, the adidas Superstar has cemented its status as a cultural icon since its official launch in 1970. With its roots tracing back to the Supergroup and Pro Model, the Superstar was originally designed as a low-top basketball sneaker. It’s development was led by adidas’ Chris Severn, who – as a basketball player himself – knew that there was room for improvement for the on-court classics of the time.
And while the shoes’ innovations might sound like no-brainers nowadays, they were in fact game-changing: A high-cut heel counter provided better support. A padded tongue evenly distributed lace pressure. Durable leather replaced canvas uppers. And to protect the shoes’ front area on the court, the distinctive shell style toe was born which made the pair instantly recognizable.
All-time legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was one of the first pros to lace them up, helping the shoe gain credibility among athletes. But as the game evolved, so did the Superstar’s identity: it made a smooth transition from performance footwear to a streetwear staple, thanks to vibrant print ads and in no small part to hip hop legends Run-D.M.C.
Inspired by the wardrobes of the street hustlers around them, the Queens trio fully embraced the sneaker and rocked them without laces, tongues pushed out – just pure attitude, as documented in their anthem ‘My adidas’.
“It was an economical thing. Because these things are durable. You know, like Melle Mel said on ‘The Message,’ it was “broken glass everywhere.” There was a lot of adversity. So these sneakers, these shoes represented the thick skins, the toughness of the community of people in New York City.”
D.M.C. on the importance of the Superstar (via Complex)
From said city’s streets to the breaking community spinning on linoleum worldwide, the Superstar had turned into a symbol of street authenticity within less than two decades.
Fast forward to the early 2000s: Around that time, the Superstar’s legacy bled into alternative scenes when Nu-metal bands made the shoe (and the slightly chunkier Superstar II) part of their uniform. Fred Durst and Slipknot could be seen wearing them at every given chance. Papa Roach rocked them on the light cube in their ‘Last Resort’ music video.
And KoRn’s love for the Three Stripes is so well-documented that in 2024, a Korn x adidas Superstar finally saw the day of light as an homage to said love affair, proving the shoe’s versatility across subcultures.
Through the 2000s and beyond, adidas continued to rework and reimagine the Superstar: Limited-edition drops, special versions, and collabs kept things fresh, ensuring that each new generation could make the sneaker their own. Pharrell Williams, BAPE, and even high-fashion houses like Prada have all put their spin on the classic silhouette.
Despite all the reinventions throughout 50+ years, the core DNA of the Superstar remains untouched – with its shell toe and three stripes still as iconic as ever, the Superstar is a bigger statement than ‘just’ a shoe.
