Born as basketball shoes for 1969 NBA champs, Superstars exploded via Run-DMC in the ’80s and now rule streets with Adriana Lima and Kendall Jenner rocking the shell-toe classics. White leather, black stripes return post-2023 Samba hype, blending hip-hop heritage with timeless versatility.
The Adidas Superstar trainer, which was first made in 1969 for playing basketball, became popular again in 2026. After the Adidas Samba was really popular in 2023, the Adidas Gazelle in 2024, and the Adidas Taekwondo in 2025, the brand with three stripes has now decided to focus on another classic model. This one has a “shell” on the toe.
Vogue France says that the latest celebrity appearances have made the classic even more popular. The supermodel Adriana Lima was seen wearing Adidas Superstars while walking through the streets of Milan, Italy, during Fashion Week for the autumn and winter of 2025 to 2026. Soon after, Kendall Jenner showed off the same model in Los Angeles, USA. She wore the trainers with sweatpants, a top, and an old Adidas jacket.
The source says that the models looked like they did in the first teaser for the new Superstar campaign, which starred Samuel L. Jackson. In the video, the actor shows off his Superstars, emphasising the idea of individuality and the model’s heritage.
Adidas has one of the biggest collections of sports shoes.
The brand wanted to sell more in America in the late 1960s. It created the Superstar, which was inspired by other basketball shoes like All Round, Super Grip and Pro Model. The shoes quickly became popular among NBA players, and after the 1968–69 championship season, when the Boston Celtics basketball players wore this model, they became an iconic shoe.
In the 1980s, Superstar went beyond sports. The band Run-DMC made them part of their stage look, which made trainers part of hip-hop culture.
Since then, other designers and brands have reinterpreted the model many times. In 2003, Japanese designer Nigo presented a variation of the Super Ape Star for his label A Bathing Ape, and in 2020, fashion house Prada offered a new interpretation.
Today, Adidas Superstars are back in their classic form: white leather, black stripes and a rubber toe cap that everyone can recognise.