The Adidas Superstar was launched in 1969, but its design began 10 years earlier. At that time, Horst, the son of founder Adi Dassler, took over the management of the first Adidas factory in France (in Alsace). Horst did not share his father's vision and wanted to expand the brand into the tennis market. It is thanks to him that the Stan Smith was created, the Stan Smith being the Superstar's big sister.
In 1968, Adidas, already established in the USA, decided to tackle the basketball market. To create their new model, they started with the iconic Stan Smith, adding the three stripes and a new sole. Two models were released: a low-top called "Supergrip" and a high-top called "Pro Model."
To improve the aesthetics of their design, Adidas decided to add the famous rubber toe cap to the front of the shoes. Originally designed to protect tennis players' shoes from damage while serving, the Superstar was initially conceived by NBA teams who eventually adopted it.
The "Superstar" truly came into its own in 1969, when Adidas decided to rename its two models after it. This name wasn't chosen at random; it was a tribute to the Boston Celtics, who won the NBA title that year wearing the iconic shoes. Once worn by the championship-winning team, the "Superstar" became the signature shoe for basketball players. A few years later, in 1973, 85% of NBA players were wearing Superstars, and the Superstar legend was born. The shoe continued to be worn by NBA athletes until 1979, when the Superstar needed to find a new audience.
The Superstar found its second life thanks to the burgeoning hip-hop music scene, and especially thanks to Run DMC, the first music group sponsored by a brand. The Superstar's success continued into the 1990s before fading into obscurity.
It wasn't until 2015 that Adidas resurrected the shoe, launching a series of limited editions in collaboration with celebrities like Pharrell Williams and David Beckham. The Superstar thus made its grand return after a 20-year hiatus.