How does a sneaker named after an old tennis player, released over 30 years ago, end up on the soles of every Instagram model in 2019? Okay, all right, maybe not a philosophical question, but a damn good question.
To truly understand the legacy of the Adidas Stan Smith, we have to go way back, back to the shoe's original name, the Adidas Robert Halen. Adidas produced its first tennis shoe in the early 1960s. Up until that point, Adidas was mainly known for its spiked track running shoes. The brand started to develop a revolutionary product for the booming world of tennis. At the time, athletes were primarily hitting the tennis courts in canvas shoes. Similar things were going on in basketball during that era. For example, basketball players in that era were playing in Converse Chuck Taylors until finally being replaced with the leather Adidas Superstar. Adidas wanted to do something similar with their tennis footwear as well.
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| Robert Haillet / Stan Smith |
The German footwear company managed to successfully deliver the first-ever leather tennis shoe in 1965. Adidas endorsed an emerging French tennis star by the name of Robert Halley. The shoe had a timely debut that coincided with the rise in popularity of tennis. This was thanks to a change in tennis regulations. Major tournaments like Wimbledon agreed to allow pro tennis players to compete with amateurs. This era in tennis is commonly referred to as the Open Era.
Since most tennis athletes back then were playing in canvas shoes, the leather on the early models of the Robert Halen stood out from the rest. The shoes were adored by tennis players all over the world. The leather exterior provided more support, prevented rolled ankles, and reduced the likelihood of other injuries. The shoe would be distributed under the name Robert Halen until 1971 when the French tennis star retired.
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| Stan Smith |
Adidas swiftly began looking for an active tennis pro to endorse the updated version of the shoe. Stan Smith's agent at the time was none other than Donald Bell, arguably the biggest tennis agent in the English. He suggested to Adidas to endorse his American client, Stan Smith. Smith was a rising star in the tennis world who had recently won the ATP World Championships in 1970 and two years later won Wimbledon. Calm, cool, and collected, and barely registering any emotion on the court, Smith would go on to win 37 career single titles and 53 double crowns. He was ranked number one in the world in 1972, winning nine titles that season. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987. Needless to say, Stan Smith was a tennis ace.
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| the Superstan |
Stan Smith was previously playing in canvas Uniroyal tennis shoes. Uniroyal was an American company that had contracted Smith to be a part of their tennis team, but they never gave him a signature model. Here Adidas presented Stan Smith with an enticing deal: big endorsement money, a signature shoe, and global marketing opportunities. With this alluring deal in front of him, Smith agreed to sign with Adidas. This was way back in 1971.
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| adidas Stan Smith "Recon" |
Why has a simple sneaker stood the test of time? Well, I think the simplicity of the design is what gives it its longevity. The sleek yet plain design has sustained its popularity over the span of many decades. The silhouette is covered in gorgeous white leather, with the only real color being the Greenhill tab with the classic trefoil logo. It also features a herringbone sole that is designed for use on clay courts.
