Adidas Superstar
Product brand
UnclaimedA low-top Adidas athletic and lifestyle shoe distinguished by its rubber shell toe, leather upper and three-stripe branding.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Adidas Superstar is a low-top athletic footwear style manufactured by Adidas since 1969. It began as a basketball shoe created during Adidas’s effort to expand in the United States, where Converse had a dominant position. The model was developed as a low-top counterpart to Adidas’s Pro Model basketball shoe and became notable for combining an all-leather upper with a rubber toe cap, a non-marking sole and the company’s three-stripe branding. The protective rubber toe gave the shoe its enduring nicknames, including “shell toe,” “shell shoe” and “shell top.” The original Superstar was positioned as a performance product rather than a fashion sneaker. Its leather construction was promoted as offering greater support than the canvas shoes widely associated with basketball at the time. The shoe attracted attention among college and professional players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and George Gervin. By the mid-1970s, it had become highly visible in North American basketball, with contemporary reporting cited by reference material claiming that more than three-quarters of NBA players wore the style in 1973. Adidas introduced updated versions around 1976, including the Pro Model II and Superstar II. These revisions brought changes to the shape, materials and overall appearance. As basketball footwear advanced and newer Adidas designs displaced the original performance role, the later Superstar found a second life as casual footwear. The model’s relatively simple low-top silhouette, contrasting shell toe, leather upper and three-stripe side panels made it adaptable to everyday clothing. The most important cultural turning point came through hip-hop and street culture. Run-D.M.C. wore Superstars with ordinary street clothing during performances and touring, rather than treating footwear as part of a conventional stage costume. Their 1986 song “My Adidas” directly celebrated the shoe and challenged negative stereotypes surrounding young sneaker wearers. Adidas subsequently entered an advertising relationship with the group, a widely cited early example of a major corporate endorsement arrangement with hip-hop artists. The collaboration helped establish Superstar as a product associated with music, youth identity and streetwear as well as sport. Adidas has continued the line through standard releases, retro editions, special colorways, material changes, artist and designer collaborations, and models adapted for different uses. The 35th Anniversary collection in 2005 assembled 35 designs across five themed series with contributors from music, fashion and the arts. The Superstar ADV, introduced in 2015, adapted the silhouette for skateboarding with a lighter upper, impact protection and an integrated sockliner and midsole. Superstar XLG, released in 2023, enlarged the proportions with a bigger sole and upper. Adidas restored the “Superstar II” name for the current second-generation model in February 2025, after a period when the shoe was generally marketed simply as Superstar. The line remains an active Adidas lifestyle and footwear franchise, although the available material does not establish current sales, revenue, headquarters or market-share figures beyond the cited 2015 unit-sales report.
History
Adidas Superstar emerged from Adidas’s attempt to establish a stronger position in the American basketball market during the 1960s. Converse was then the leading name in basketball footwear, and Adidas sought to compete with a shoe that combined a more structured construction with recognizable brand details. Introduced in 1969, Superstar was developed as a low-top version of the Pro Model basketball shoe. It was notable for its all-leather upper, a feature that differentiated it from canvas basketball shoes, and for a rubber toe cap that protected the front of the foot. Its non-marking sole also suited indoor court use. The rubber toe cap became the model’s defining visual element and led to the enduring shell-toe nickname. Together with the three stripes, the low-cut profile and contrasting color blocking, it gave Superstar a visual identity that remained recognizable even after the shoe’s original athletic purpose changed. Players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and George Gervin helped give the model visibility in college and professional basketball. Reference material reports that by 1973 more than 75 percent of NBA players wore the Superstar, although the supplied material does not provide an independent methodology for that estimate. Adidas revised the design around 1976 with the Pro Model II and Superstar II. These versions updated the materials and appearance and eventually displaced the earliest versions in the company’s range. As newer performance shoes entered basketball, Superstar increasingly moved away from the court. Its low-top shape and durable leather construction made it suitable for casual wear, while its three-stripe branding gave it a place in the expanding sneaker and streetwear market. Hip-hop was central to the model’s cultural transformation. Run-D.M.C. wore Superstars with street clothing during performances and tours, presenting the shoe as part of an everyday identity rather than as a formal sports uniform. In 1986, the group released “My Adidas,” a song that celebrated the shoe and responded to negative assumptions about sneaker-wearing youth. Adidas later signed an advertising agreement with Run-D.M.C.; the relationship is widely described as an early major-brand endorsement deal involving hip-hop artists. It helped make the Superstar a symbol of music, street style and youth culture, while also demonstrating the commercial value of artist-led sneaker affiliation. Adidas continued to refresh the franchise through limited editions, collaborations, special colorways and anniversary programs. The 2005 35th Anniversary collection included 35 models across five series and involved contributors from music, fashion and the arts. The brand also adapted the shoe for specific use cases. Superstar ADV, introduced in 2015, was designed for skateboarding and incorporated a lighter upper, impact protection and a combined sockliner and midsole. In 2023, Superstar XLG enlarged the proportions of the design with a bigger sole and upper, reflecting the continued influence of exaggerated footwear shapes in casual fashion. The current second-generation model had generally been sold under the simpler Superstar name for a period, although the “II” designation appeared in some collaborations and special releases. In February 2025, Adidas restored Superstar II as the model’s formal name. Across these changes, the franchise has retained its shell toe, three-stripe identity and connection to both Adidas’s sporting heritage and its lifestyle business. The supplied sources do not establish a complete list of all releases, collaborations, current markets or present-day financial results.
- 2025
Superstar II name returns
[1]Adidas restores the Superstar II designation for the current second-generation version.
- 2023
Superstar XLG launches
[1]Adidas expands the silhouette with a larger sole and upper.
- 2015
Superstar becomes Adidas’s top-selling sneaker of the year
[1]The reference material reports sales of more than 15 million pairs in 2015.
- 2015
Superstar ADV launches
[1]Adidas introduces a skateboarding adaptation with a lighter upper, impact protection and an integrated sockliner and midsole.
- 2005
35th Anniversary collection
[1]Adidas releases a 35-model anniversary program organized into five series and involving figures from music, fashion and the arts.
- 1986
Run-D.M.C. releases “My Adidas”
[1]Run-D.M.C. celebrates the Superstar in “My Adidas,” helping consolidate its association with hip-hop and streetwear. Adidas later signs an advertising deal with the group.
- 1976
Updated Pro Model II and Superstar II versions appear
[1]Adidas updates the related Pro Model and Superstar designs with revised styling and materials.
- 1973
Strong visibility among NBA players
[1]Reference material reports that more than 75% of NBA players wore the Superstar, underscoring its prominence in professional basketball at the time.
- 1969
Superstar is introduced
[1]Adidas introduces Superstar as a low-top basketball shoe derived from the Pro Model, featuring an all-leather upper, rubber shell toe and non-marking sole.
Products and positioning
Classic athletic footwear and streetwear lifestyle sneaker
Basketball and lifestyle footwear · 1969
Adidas Superstar
The original low-top Adidas basketball shoe introduced in 1969. It combines an all-leather upper, three-stripe branding, a non-marking sole and the rubber shell toe that became its defining feature. Although created for court use, the design later became a widely recognized casual and streetwear sneaker.
Lifestyle footwear · 1976
Superstar II
The second-generation form of the Superstar, introduced as an updated design around 1976 and later marketed for extended periods simply as Superstar. It has appeared in many colors, materials and thematic editions, including collaborations and releases connected with sports teams and cities.
Anniversary collection · 2005
Superstar 35th Anniversary
A 2005 anniversary program comprising 35 Superstar designs arranged across five series. Adidas worked with contributors from music, fashion and the arts, using the collection to present the shoe as a cultural and creative platform rather than only a sports product.
Skateboarding footwear · 2015
Superstar ADV
A skateboarding adaptation released in 2015. The model uses a modified, lighter upper and adds impact protection, while a combined sockliner and midsole was intended to provide cushioning and comfort for skate use.
Lifestyle footwear · 2023
Superstar XLG
An enlarged interpretation launched in 2023. Superstar XLG retains the recognizable shell-toe and three-stripe language while using a larger sole and bigger leather upper to create a more substantial, fashion-oriented profile.
Marketing campaigns
- 2005Superstar 35th Anniversary collection
International markets
Adidas assembled 35 designs across five series with creative participation from music, fashion and the arts.
Outcome. The collection reinforced Superstar’s status as a platform for cultural collaborations and commemorative releases.
- 1986Run-D.M.C. “My Adidas” partnership
United States
Run-D.M.C.’s public use of Superstar with street clothing and the release of “My Adidas” turned the shoe into a visible hip-hop symbol. Adidas followed with an advertising deal and later released a Run-D.M.C. clothing line.
Outcome. The partnership helped reposition Superstar from a basketball product into a major streetwear and music-culture product.
Brand decisions
2025
Restore the Superstar II designationOtherBackground
The current second-generation design had commonly been sold simply as Superstar, although the II name remained in some special releases.
Action taken
Adidas brought back the original Superstar II name for the current version.
Aftermath
The naming change reconnects the current product with its second-generation lineage.
2023
Introduce the larger Superstar XLGGeneration changeBackground
Adidas continued to reinterpret the classic silhouette for contemporary lifestyle footwear.
Action taken
The company launched Superstar XLG with a larger sole and upper.
Aftermath
The model added an oversized option to the Superstar family while retaining its shell-toe and three-stripe cues.
2015
Adapt Superstar for skateboardingProduct launchBackground
Adidas extended the established silhouette into a skateboarding-specific product category.
Action taken
It launched Superstar ADV with a lighter upper, impact protection and an integrated sockliner and midsole.
Aftermath
The release broadened the functional applications of the Superstar design while preserving its established visual identity.
1976
Update the Superstar designGeneration changeBackground
Adidas was revising its basketball footwear range as the original models matured.
Action taken
The company introduced the Superstar II and related Pro Model II with updated styling and materials.
Aftermath
The revised Superstar eventually became the principal version, while the model increasingly developed a casual use case as newer basketball designs arrived.
1969
Enter the American basketball market with a low-top leather shoeProduct launchBackground
Adidas was seeking to compete in a United States basketball market dominated by Converse.
Action taken
The company introduced Superstar as a low-top version of the Pro Model, using an all-leather upper, shell toe and non-marking sole.
Aftermath
The model gained attention among college and professional players and established the design language that later supported its lifestyle success.
Recent events
- 2025
Adidas restores the Superstar II name[1]
Product generation · Other
Adidas brought back the original “Superstar II” designation for the current second-generation model after the version had generally been marketed simply as Superstar. The “II” label had continued to appear in some collaborations and special releases.
- 2023
Adidas launches the larger Superstar XLG[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Superstar XLG expanded the proportions of the familiar design through a larger sole and a bigger leather upper.
- 2020
Adidas marks the Superstar’s fiftieth anniversary[2]
Campaign · Product generation
Adidas used the fiftieth anniversary of the model to support special releases and renewed storytelling around its sports and cultural history.
- 2015
Superstar records more than 15 million pairs sold in 2015[1]
Other
The reference material reports that Adidas sold more than 15 million pairs of the style in 2015, making it the company’s top-selling sneaker of that year.
- 2015
Adidas launches the Superstar ADV skateboarding version[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The Superstar ADV adapted the classic silhouette for skateboarding with a lighter leather upper, impact protection and a combined sockliner and midsole intended to improve comfort.
- 2005
Adidas introduces the 35th Anniversary Superstar collection[1]
Campaign · Product launch
Adidas marked the model’s 35th anniversary with 35 designs grouped into five series and developed with participants from music, fashion and the arts.
- 1986
Run-D.M.C. helps move Superstar from basketball into hip-hop culture[1]
Campaign · Other
Run-D.M.C.’s song “My Adidas” paid tribute to the shoe, while the group’s stage and touring style helped associate Superstar with hip-hop, streetwear and youth identity. Adidas later signed an advertising deal with the group.
- 1986
Run-D.M.C. links Adidas Superstar with hip-hop culture[3]
Campaign · Other
The group’s “My Adidas” association and highly visible use of the shoe helped make the Superstar a major streetwear and music-culture symbol.
- 1973
Superstar becomes a major basketball shoe in the United States[1]
Other
Reference material states that the Superstar was reportedly worn by more than 75% of NBA players, illustrating the model’s visibility during its performance-basketball period.
- 1969
Adidas Superstar enters the market as a low-top basketball shoe[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Adidas introduced the Superstar as a low-top basketball model featuring the rubber shell toe that became its signature design element.
Sources3 sources
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