From RUN D.M.C. to Wales Bonner – the adidas Superstar, characterized by the iconic shell-toe, is a sneaker with many faces. Originally designed as a basketball shoe and later embraced by street culture, the sneaker makes its long-awaited comeback in 2025 and deserves all the praise.
In recent weeks, several adidas Superstar silhouettes have been released. During Paris Fashion Week, Pharrell Williams unveiled the Superstar 92, and names like Willy Chavarria and Wales Bonner also presented their own interpretations. One thing is clear: the Superstar is back – and more stylish than ever.
Back from the past
After the hype surrounding T-Toe silhouettes like the Samba, Gazelle, and Handball SPZL, all eyes are now on the Superstar. Although the sneaker has never truly disappeared from the streets, it has lost some popularity in recent years.
Think back to the immense hype around the Superstar a few years ago, which now causes some to view the model with a bit of skepticism.
The year was 2016: the iPhone 7 was released, the first Deadpool movie hit theaters, and almost everyone was wearing the adidas Superstar. The sneaker was released in countless colorways, including the rainbow-colored releases by Pharrell Williams, but it was mainly the classic white colorway that was omnipresent.
Combined with skinny jeans – often with large knee rips – the Superstar was seen everywhere. A huge success for adidas, but as with every trend, the pendulum eventually swung the other way. As the hype died down, people swapped their Superstars for Vans SK8s or the infamous Balenciaga Triple S (yes, that one), resulting in the Superstar gaining the same 'overhyped' status that the Panda Dunk has now.
Superstar 2025
I personally never stopped wearing my Superstars, but I can't deny that they have appeared less in the streets in recent years. Until now. The silhouette is back from the past, much to the delight of many (myself included).
During Paris Fashion Week earlier this year, adidas showcased the Superstar II – a bulkier version of the classic Superstar. The design remains faithful to the original but features a thicker silhouette with added padding, offering not just a sturdier appearance but also enhanced comfort.
Shortly after the launch of the adidas Superstar II, various colorways and collaborations were released. Last month, JJJJound unveiled two variants of the Superstar, both made with premium materials.
The CLOT collaboration, released in celebration of Chinese New Year, also had a luxurious touch (and the corresponding price tag).
Luxury sneaker
Luxury seems to be a keyword for the Superstar nowadays. Whereas the model was once primarily associated with hip hop, like the collaboration with RUN D.M.C., or even with punk (KoRn 2023), by 2025, the silhouette has become a sneaker with class and allure.
The Wales Bonner x adidas Superstar from 2024 is a perfect example of this. With its crocodile leather finish and retail price of €250, this model falls more into the luxury segment than the sneaker domain.
However, it was Prada that elevated the Superstar to a high-end sneaker back in 2020. The collaboration exuded minimalism, and it was precisely because of this that all three colorways were so strong.
Pharrell Williams' latest design of the Superstar completes the circle. The hip-hop artist, who is currently the Creative Director of Louis Vuitton Menswear, one of the world’s largest fashion houses, brought his adidas collaboration to the same stage as his designs for Vuitton.
The sneaker was released in several variants, including the chunky Superstar 92 with a padded collar and tongue, which will be available next month at adidas.
Additionally, one could argue that Louis Vuitton's latest silhouette, the ButterSoft, closely resembles the adidas Superstar 92. The Superstar has come a long way, from Williams' first adidas collaboration in 2016 to the adidas Superstar 92, which may have served as inspiration for Louis Vuitton's latest silhouette.
Future
From hip hop to high fashion – the adidas Superstar moves effortlessly between both worlds. In the upcoming seasons, several releases are set to drop, such as a BAPE x adidas collaboration featuring premium leather and gold branding.
Additionally, a vintage version is on the way, crafted in luxurious ostrich leather, and the silhouette also appeared in the recent A-type campaign, a premium collection from adidas. All eyes are on the Superstar. And rightly so.
