The Stan Smith model was created in 1964 for tennis players. At the time, it was called the Robert Haillet, after its creator, a French tennis player. In 1973, Adidas reached an agreement with tennis player Stanley Smith, from California, who subsequently gave the name "Stan Smith" to this sneaker.
In the 80s, it was no longer just seen on tennis courts. It became a street fashion item, even seen on the feet of many artists.
In 2011, Adidas announced its intention to remove the Stan Smith from its 2012 collection. Sales of the sneaker were no longer high enough… But in 2013, Adidas reversed its decision and announced the return of the Stan Smith for the following year. Sales were strong, and the Stan Smith reached its peak popularity in 2015.