Adidas Stan Smith is a tennis shoe made by Adidas. However, today the shoe is not used for tennis, but as casual footwear.
Stan Smith is an American tennis player, who was active between the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1980s. Adidas approached him to endorse the so-called Haillet shoe in 1973.
Video Adidas Stan Smith
Introduction
The shoe, usually made with a white leather upper and laces, has a simple design. Unlike most Adidas shoes, it does not have the external three stripes. Instead there are three rows of perforations (or punched ventilation holes) on both sides of each shoe's leather upper in the same pattern that should symbolize the three ordinary stripes. There is sometimes a sketched picture of Stan Smith on the tongue of the shoe. In some sense, the Adidas branding is minimal on the shoe. The design and form of the shoe has basically stayed the same since it was introduced, but several new versions and colorways have appeared during the years.
Maps Adidas Stan Smith
History
1960s
In 1963 (or in 1964), the first Adidas tennis shoe was produced, which was the first ever leather tennis shoe and marked the beginning of a long line of classic Adidas shoes. The upper part of the shoe is made of white leather, whereas the pimpled outer sole is made of rubber. The inner sole is made of synthetic material. It was Horst Dassler, the son of Adolf "Adi" Dassler - the founder of Adidas, who had the idea of the first leather tennis shoe. In 1965, this tennis shoe model was named the "adidas Robert Haillet" after the French tennis professional Robert Haillet. When Haillet retired from tennis, Adidas and Horst Dassler decided to find another tennis player that could endorse the tennis shoe model. Donald Dell, an American tennis manager, suggested Stan Smith, who took the offer in order to obtain royalties for the use of his name. For Adidas, the shoe became a market opener in the United States. In 1967, a green foam padding was added at the back of the shoe for Achilles tendon protection.
1970s
In 1971, the model was renamed the "adidas stan smith", after the acclaimed tennis champion Stan Smith, who was ranked World No. 1 at the time. In 1973, Stan Smith signed a contract with Adidas. According to "Sneaker Report", this contract is on 13th place of the 50 most influential sneaker sponsorships in sports history. For some reason, Adidas could not decide at first if the model should still be called Robert Haillet or if it should be renamed to Stan Smith, so for several years (1973-1978) the shoe was produced with a tongue that had Stan Smith's portrait and the word "Haillet" written above it. In 1978, the word "Haillet" was finally removed from the tongue, and the shoe was really endorsed by Stan Smith and officially renamed the adidas stan smith.
1980s and 1990s
In 1988, the adidas stan smith had been sold in about 22 million pairs, and the shoe was listed in Guinness World Records. In 1994, the number of pairs had increased to 23.7 million.
2000s
At the turn of the 21st century, Adidas re-issued a new version of the adidas stan smith - "adidas Stan Smith II". In 2008, a replica of the original adidas stan smith was released in the Adidas Originals line and was named "adidas stan smith 80s". In total, the adidas stan smith has sold over 30 million pairs worldwide since 1971. There is even a source that claims that Adidas has sold 40 million pairs of the adidas stan smith by 2005.
During a November 17, 2009 interview that aired on WTEM Washington DC The Tony Kornheiser Show sports radio talk show, former tennis pro and sports agent Donald Dell said the original Stan Smith green-tab shoe has been in production since 1972, and generated more than US$65 million in revenue in 2008. Dell added during the same interview that the shoe is now available in eight versions, and the model is the biggest-selling tennis shoe ever.
2010s
"Complex Sneakers" has listed the adidas stan smith on 4th place of the 50 greatest tennis sneakers of all time, and in addition, the adidas Robert Haillet on 36th place. "ShortList Magazine" has listed the adidas stan smith among the 10 greatest sneakers ever. Furthermore, Neal Heard, who wrote the book trainers, put the adidas stan smith on 6th place in his top 10 list.
Despite the enormous success of the adidas stan smith, Adidas decided in 2011 to stop marketing the shoe by 2012. On May 26, 2011, this news was ironically announced at the tennis stadium Roland Garros in Paris, France. According to the French magazine "GQ Magazine", the reason is that Stan Smith is "a myth that is only sold in France". Several rumors say that the adidas stan smith might come back in the Adidas collection in 2014. Even though the adidas stan smith has been taken out of production, there is still the possibility to obtain the shoe in some ordinary sports or shoe shops and at some online stores. In addition, vintage pairs are sometimes sold at online auction sites such as eBay. On May 31, 2013, Adidas officially announced that the adidas stan smith will be back in stores during 2014.
2014
In 2014 Adidas re-launched the Stan Smith with an option for customers to customise their own pair, giving limited options on colors for each of the main components and an option to have their name embossed in the insole replacing the standard adidas logo.
Summary of the development of the adidas stan smith
This is a summary of the development of the adidas stan smith:
- 1963-1964: Not marked as Haillet, no green foam padding, no logo on the tongue.
- 1965-1966: Marked as Haillet, no green foam padding, no logo on the tongue.
- 1967-1973: Marked as Haillet, green foam padding, no logo on the tongue.
- 1974-1977:
- Marked as Haillet, green foam padding, Adidas trefoil logo on the tongue.
- Marked as Haillet, green foam padding, Stan Smith's portrait and signature on the tongue.
- Marked as Haillet, shape and material of the green foam padding changed and the Adidas trefoil logo and the text "stan smith" added, Stan Smith's portrait and signature on the tongue.
- 1978-early 1980s: Marked as Stan Smith, green foam padding with the Adidas trefoil logo and the text "stan smith", Stan Smith's portrait and signature on the tongue.
- Early 1980s-present: Marked as Stan Smith, green foam padding with the Adidas trefoil logo and the text "stan smith", a new logo with Stan Smith's portrait (without one of his trademarks - his moustache) and signature on the tongue.
Versions
There are several different versions of the adidas stan smith. Normally, they are white with grass-green heel parts and have laces, but there are also other colorings. For example, the shoes can have navy-blue heel parts (or, in principle, any other color) and they can be totally black. In addition, from the mid-1990s, some versions come with velcro straps instead of laces.
Most common versions
The most common versions of the adidas stan smith are:
- adidas stan smith: This is the classic version of the adidas stan smith. This version has a thin tongue with Stan Smith's sketched portrait and his signature, the back of the shoes has a (normally grass-green) part with the Adidas trefoil logo and the text "stan smith" under the logo, and the inner sole has a printed pattern consisting of the text "adidas" and the trefoil logo. In addition, the inner of the shoes is unlined. Note that the original model version numbers of the adidas stan smith were FAF1028 (or just AF1028) for grass-green and AF1365 for blue, where the digit 1 indicated that it was made in France. Later numbers were 032853 and 034685.
- adidas stan smith II: This version has a thick tongue without Stan Smith's portrait and signature. Instead there is a part of fabric with the text "adidas STAN SMITH". At the back of the shoes there is only the Adidas trefoil logo. The inner sole is white with a single print of the word "adidas" and the Adidas trefoil logo. The inner of this version is lined. Some of the model version numbers were G17079, G17076, G17077, G10778, G10780, and G10781.
- adidas stan smith 80s: This version is a replica of the version adidas stan smith. However, it has an oldschool or retro touch. Compared with the original version, this version (912305) has a yellowed outer sole, yellowish laces, the leather upper of the shoes is not pure white (known as neowhite), and the color of the heel parts is called fairway green. Note that this version also exists in at least two other colorings: white/navy-blue (G01976) and nubuck black with white outer soles (G01965).
Less common versions
Less common versions of the adidas stan smith are:
- adidas stan smith Millennium (659910, 073158): This is an updated version of the classic adidas stan smith, which has the same three perforation "stripes", but has the new Adidas logo instead of the Adidas trefoil logo. In addition, the outer sole is thicker and the tongue is thick as on the adidas stan smith II. It comes in white and navy blue, but the classic coloring of white and green also exists. The shoe has a lightweight design.
- adidas stan smith I LG (670461, 670460, 385855): This version is the same as adidas stan smith, except that the words "STAN SMITH" are printed on the side of the leather upper.
- adidas stan smith Supreme (519514, 519516, 552286, 552288)
Limited editions
An incomplete unordered list of limited editions is the following:
- adidas stan smith Comfort: This version is a velcro edition of the classic adidas stan smith.
- adidas stan smith Slim (012981)
- adidas stan smith Vintage (807446, 465265, 561622): This version has a sketched portrait of Stan Smith etched in gold on the tongue.
- adidas stan smith Vintage "Crafts Pack" (G13247)
- adidas stan smith Vintage "Drawings Pack" (G00236)
- adidas stan smith Vintage Smith vs. Nastase (749187)
- adidas stan smith Vintage Tournament Edition (018090): This version is a white quality leather shoe with a forest green heel tab and black and the same green in the inner lining. Two tennis rackets and the words "Tournament Edition" are etched in gold on the tongue.
- adidas stan smith Herzogenaurach Sportschuhe Limited Edition (G03132)
- adidas stan smith I Graph (919420)
- adidas stan smith II Beach Pack (G19151)
- adidas stan smith II Blue Suede (G43716)
- adidas stan smith II Camouflage (046189)
- adidas stan smith II City Series: Brussels (013614), Las Vegas (013616), Rio de Janeiro (013619), and Seville (013623).
- adidas stan smith II Coast To Coast (071328)
- adidas stan smith II Cope2 (653435)
- adidas stan smith II x Def Jam (G06112)
- adidas stan smith II "End To End"
- adidas stan smith II "End To End" Kings
- adidas stan smith II x Fafi (G19858)
- adidas stan smith II Fleece (G19844)
- adidas stan smith II Geisha (G00402)
- adidas stan smith II Ghostface Killah (G06073)
- adidas stan smith II Greens++
- adidas stan smith II Kermit the Frog (562898)
- adidas stan smith II Lea (099841)
- adidas stan smith II Logo (163143)
- adidas stan smith II Lovers
- adidas stan smith II Mahogany (G50871)
- adidas stan smith II Mammoth Pack
- adidas stan smith II Mesh (561362)
- adidas stan smith II Method Man (G06071)
- adidas stan smith II Miss Piggy (465574)
- adidas stan smith II Mr Happy (562900)
- adidas stan smith II Nubuck (034098)
- adidas stan smith II OctoGlows
- adidas stan smith II Paintballers (G04516)
- adidas stan smith II Pool Ball (077525)
- adidas stan smith II Rime (017221)
- adidas stan smith II x Russ
- adidas stan smith II Seasons Greetings (G04034)
- adidas stan smith II x Scien
- adidas stan smith II x Scien x 123Klan x "End To End" (017180)
- adidas stan smith II Smart (915050)
- adidas stan smith II x Sole Brother x Custom City Series: Miami & Amsterdam
- adidas stan smith II Star Wars (G16801)
- adidas stan smith II Trimm Dich (562896)
- adidas stan smith II United States (G50869)
- adidas stan smith II x Upper Playground x AESOP ROCK (663744)
- adidas stan smith II x Upper Playground x David Choe (663742)
- adidas stan smith II Weave (654231, 654228)
- adidas stan smith II x Young Jeezy (Snowman) x Def Jam (G06072)
- adidas stan smith II Comfort: This is a velcro edition of the adidas stan smith II.
- adidas stan smith II Comfort Betty Boop (465564)
- adidas stan smith II Comfort x Fafi (G15416)
- adidas stan smith II Comfort Sport Goofy (562899)
- adidas stan smith II Comfort Tron (562897)
- adidas stan smith II Smart One "End To End" (017202)
- adidas stan smith II Velcro Pack
- adidas stan smith II Strap (G12511, G12512, G12513, G12514, G13893)
- adidas stan smith 80s - Star Wars Edition - Master Yoda (G12434)
- adidas stan smith 80s - Star Wars Edition - Millennium Falcon (G17360)
- adidas stan smith 80s - Star Wars Edition - Wampa (G51612): Or is this an adidas Campus shoe?
- adidas stan smith 80s Mid - Star Wars Edition - Darth Vader (G46195)
- adidas stan smith 80s Mid - Star Wars Edition - Imperial Guard (G41817)
- adidas stan smith 80s Mid Casual (G16684, G16683)
- adidas stan smith 80s Mid x 10.Deep "Raw Dogs" (G12909)
- adidas stan smith 80s Mid Iridescent (G42848)
- adidas stan smith 80s TF (G19265)
- adidas stan smith 80s x ACU x D-Mop (G14579, G14579-1)
- adidas stan smith 80s "BBU" - Beauty & Youth United Arrows x Bedwin & The Heartbreakers x Undefeated (U42971, U42972)
- adidas stan smith 80s Clay/Aloe (G02955)
- adidas stan smith 80s x Five-Two 3 City Artist Pack x KRSN (G18295)
- adidas stan smith 80s Graphite (912320)
- adidas stan smith 80s Outdoor (G50877, G50876)
- adidas stan smith 80s x maharishi (G14102)
- adidas stan smith 80s x ObyO x Kazuki x JAM HOME MADE (G43979, G43978)
- adidas stan smith 80s Lux - Stingray (G44883)
- adidas stan smith 80s Lux - Zebra (G16625)
- adidas stan smith 80s Lux Comfort - Denim
- adidas stan smith 80s x Diesel (G46072)
- adidas stan smith 80s Mid x Diesel (Y00304)
- adidas stan smith 80s A.R.C. (Alife Rivington Club) (G00954): This version has an off-white all-canvas upper.
- adidas stan smith 80s DHug (G14839)
- adidas stan smith 80s Lite Zip (G44153, G44158)
- adidas stan smith x Undefeated x BAPE
- adidas stan smith 2.0 "Grey Patent" (G43717)
- adidas stan smith 2.5 (666356, 016959, 016963, 280686, 280696)
- adidas stan smith 2.5 Comfort (017032, 280701, 666391, 666407)
- adidas stan smith Mid x Hellboy II (G04664)
- adidas stan smith Lotus Logo (G19250, G19251, G19252)
- adidas stan smith x Swarovski
- adidas stan smith x Yohji Yamamoto x "Yohji Smith" (V24938)
- adidas stan smith Skate (044032, 044033, 466435, 466437, 466440, 466443): This is a skateboard edition of the adidas stan smith.
- adidas SB stan smith x Ewan Hecox (946015)
- adidas stan smith Skore (075702)
- adidas stan smith JS (Jeremy Scott) Bowling (G50731)
- adidas stan smith Jeremy Scott ObyO JS Slim Glow in the Dark (G61706)
- adidas stan smith Remodel (G13241, G13242, G23143, G13943)
- adidas stan smith Lite (G44497, G44496, G44494)
- adidas stan smith Lite CQ (G44070, G44069, G44072, G44071)
- adidas stan smith II Lite CQ (G16547, G16548)
Countries of production
The adidas stan smith was originally manufactured in Landersheim in north-eastern France by "Adidas France" that was initiated by Horst Dassler. However, since the production of the adidas stan smith started, the shoe has been produced in several countries. Among the various countries are, for example, Algeria, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, USA, and Vietnam.
For tennis
Today, the adidas stan smith is not recommended for tennis players, but the shoe continues to be an iconic and stylish model for sneaker fans in general and for old school and retro tennis shoe fans in particular. To non-tennis players, Stan Smith is probably most well known for the various versions of the adidas stan smith.
Sneaker collectors
For some sneaker collectors, the most sought after vintage adidas stan smiths are the early versions of the classic adidas Stan Smith. Especially, the ones that were made in France are considered to be highly valuable.
Sneaker art
For some time, people have been drawing or painting on their sneakers using ink, markers, spray cans, etc. Especially, young people have made this kind of art with various motifs ranging from simple drawings to more complex graffiti paintings. Probably due to its often white color, the adidas stan smith has been used as an object for sneaker art. For example, different artists and design studios are hand-painting adidas stan smith sneakers and sell them as art. Concerning signed adidas stan smith sneakers, it is possible to find them with Stan Smith's autograph with black marker ink on the white leather upper.
In fact, in 1983, Adidas launched the concept of Adicolor, where sneakers were sold with the tools that they could be customised by the purchaser. The Adicolor sneakers are all white sneakers specifically created for the Adicolor concept. In 2005, Adidas re-launched Adicolor as a replica of the original from 1983. There have been some Adicolor versions of the adidas stan smith. Also, the adidas stan smith versions "Sport Goofy", "Kermit the Frog", "Miss Piggy", "Mr Happy", "Trimm Dich", "Comfort Betty Boop", "Comfort Tron", and "Velcro Pack" belong to the Adicolor series. Except from painting, other sneaker art has been performed with the adidas stan smith. In 2008, Adidas Originals started a collaboration with American fashion designer Jeremy Scott. He has designed a couple of different versions of the adidas stan smith such as "JS Bowling" and "JS Slim Glow in the Dark".
References
External links
- adidas Official Stan Smith Page
- adidas Group official website
- adidas official website
- adidas Originals official website
- adidas @ Facebook
- adidas Originals @ Facebook
- Stan Smith about tennis @ adidas archive
- adidas stan smith on Sneakerpedia
Source of article : Wikipedia
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