Adidas Boldly Revises One of Its Most Quintessential Sneakers

Originally introduced in 1969, the Adidas Superstar is among the most iconic sneakers of all time. This, of course, was aided by their widespread adoption in hip-hop culture in the 1980s.

Over the years, the Superstar has seen many interpretations, some playing it close to the vest, while others have been a bit more avant-garde (the Adidas x Avavav Superfinger Superstar comes to mind).

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The latest to join the legendary sneakers’ ever-growing ranks is the Adidas Clot Superstar by Edison Chen. In many ways, these shoes honor their heritage, but they’re also a big, bold departure in others.

Adidas

Kickin’ it, old-school

What’s particularly interesting about this Clot sneaker reinterpretation is that there’s absolutely no doubt it’s an Adidas Superstar. However, the longer you look at it, the more details you notice that veer off the long-beaten path.

Take the shoe’s most defining features, for instance: the shell toe and the side stripes.

The toe has the same iconic ridged appearance, but it’s actually not made of rubber, as is typical. Rather, like the rest of the upper, it’s entirely built from leather. (If you look very closely, you can see the stitching at the base of the ridges.)

Adidas

Similarly, the stripes on the side have the same serrated edges and placement, but the pinhole vents between them have nearly tripled in number, creating a delicate pattern that extends to the heel reinforcement.

Lastly and most obviously, the base of the shoe features a bright orange stripe around its edge, creating a bold vibrance not found in typical Superstars. (That color also extends to the insole.)

Adidas

Unusual underfoot

As far as Superstars go, the rubber outsole is easily the single greatest departure in this version, but it’s not wholly novel. The sawtooth design is a common theme with Edison Chen’s recent Adidas collaborations.

Interestingly, the design dates back to outdoor and tactical use, independently developed by multiple designers in the ’50s and used to reduce impacts on the wearer, including paratroopers, veterans with prosthetics, hikers and outdoorsmen.

Adidas

On this shoe, it also grants the sneaker a heritage, throwback vibe, seemingly reaching into the past further than its own origins. It’s also worth noting that the shoe uses a “Cold Cement” construction, meaning it utilizes industrial adhesives, rather than heat, to join the parts together.

This unusual take on the Adidas Superstar is certain to turn heads, and it will almost definitely be a divisive entry in the brand’s catalog. However, that is also a recipe for high demand, and this shoe is likely to sell out extremely quickly.

Adidas

Availability and pricing

The Adidas Clot Superstar by Edison Chen will be available Saturday, July 25, at 10 am. You can set a reminder for stock notifications on the brand’s site right now.

Adidas

Adidas Clot Superstar by Edison Chen

• $200 at Adidas

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