Fashion, as they say, is cyclical – which is why these 6 classic sneakers have stood the test of time, selling millions since their inception.
What Are Sneakers?
Sneakers are lightweight shoes with rubber soles, designed for athletic training or everyday wear. There are many definitions for sneakers: canvas shoes, rubber sole shoes… to distinguish them from dress shoes in general. The majority consensus on Wiki is that sneakers are lightweight shoes with rubber soles, designed for athletic training or everyday wear.
adidas Superstar (1969) – one of the immortal sneaker models in the world of fashion
Sneakers, simply put, are soft-soled sports shoes. Today, the definition of sneakers has expanded, including high-end fashion shoes and those unrelated to sports.
Sneakers are perhaps the most popular type of footwear in the world, and there’s a reason for that.
With modern technology, sneakers are increasingly optimized for performance. They are always the ideal choice, with thousands of options, easy to wear, and suitable for various purposes.
Therefore, despite having a century-long history, many sneaker models are still popular for their simplicity in design, sometimes even the historical story behind each pair of shoes that captivates people.
adidas Stan Smith
First introduced in 1971, the adidas Stan Smith quickly transcended the limits of being just tennis shoes and became a global phenomenon, representing youthful and modern ‘sporty’ style.
Stan Smith – the world’s No.1 tennis player, winning 7 Grand Slam titles since the 1960s, inspired adidas to create a shoe model bearing his name. Few also know that Stan Smith was one of the first brand ambassadors for adidas.
With its original, minimalist design that still ensures performance on the court, the adidas Stan Smith also features a low-cut profile to reduce the risk of ankle injuries for athletes. This shoe also broke the “all-white” rule of sports shoes at the time.
Instead, the three-striped logo was replaced with perforated holes on raw leather, adding a robust white adidas Stan Smith logo on a lush green (inspired by tennis courts) at the heel, and the “Endorsed by Stan Smith” tongue tab featuring the silhouette of the legendary tennis player… These details marked a historic change for the entire brand.
To this day, Stan Smith may not be forever young, but the shoes bearing his name have never been forgotten by the world. adidas Stan Smith has surpassed the standards of pure sports shoes and become a “must-have” fashion item: among the top 10 greatest sneakers with over 50 million pairs sold worldwide.
adidas Superstar (80 USD) – 1969
An immortal sports shoe line, the iconic adidas Superstar was introduced in 1969 specifically for basketball. In the past, the shoes with the characteristic “shell toe” became one of the most influential factors in sports, fashion, and hip-hop culture of the 1970s-80s.
Superstar was originally intended as a dedicated basketball shoe with a low-cut profile and a unique shell toe made of rubber to protect the toes from impact.
The unique design of Superstar quickly caught the attention of many NBA and NCAA players at the time. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the most notable superstar to use it. In the mid-70s, over 75% of NBA players always had a pair of adidas’ beloved creation.
Not only dominating professional basketball courts in the 1970s and 1980s, but adidas Superstar also caught the eye of hip-hop enthusiasts, becoming synonymous with rugged street fashion.
In 1983, adidas Superstar caught the eye of Run D.M.C – one of the most influential hip-hop bands, with an impact lasting to this day. Run D.M.C “rocked” Superstar on stage by lacing them loosely, without tying the shoelaces, following the style of “big brothers” in jail.
In 1986, Run D.M.C released the album “Raising Hell” with the hit track “My adidas,” reaffirming the status of Superstar in every street corner.
Nike Air Force 1
Born in 1982 by designer Bruce Kilgore, this shoe immediately became a global hit, selling out on the first day of release.
Why? This is a revolutionary shoe in the sneaker world, the first design to be combined with technology. Nike Air Force 1 (AF1) is the first shoe to integrate ‘air’ technology, an airbag arranged inside the sole to absorb impact force, reducing foot injuries.
Nike AF1 was initially created for basketball, but it gradually became a favorite fashion shoe for influential entertainers, transforming them into fashion shoes.
The name Air Force One is inspired by the aircraft used by the President of the United States.
AF1 comes in 3 styles: low-mid-top. With Mid-Top styles, we can easily notice a strap with a buckle or Velcro for added security and customizable options. This is also a unique feature of these shoes compared to other designs of the time.
Another identifier of AF1 is a small metal badge in the middle of the shoelace made of tin (in addition to plastic and silver versions), engraved with the words ‘AF1′ and the number ’82’ representing the year of release.
Air Force 1 has had nearly 2000 colorways, different versions, and this number is still not increasing. However, the two basic colors all-white and all-black are still the most successful and best-selling versions of this product line.
Over 12 million pairs were sold during its peak in 2005. This number reflected the popularity of AF1 worldwide. To date, AF1 brings in over $800 million annually for Nike. The existence of this shoe for the past 35 years shows the sustainability of AF1 in the hearts of consumers.
Air Jordan 1 (95 USD) – 1985
Air Jordan is a sports brand established, designed, and produced specifically for basketball legend Michael Jordan by a Nike subsidiary called “Jordan Brand.”
In 1984, after winning a national title at the University of North Carolina and a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Michael Jordan was selected in the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. Also in that year, Nike signed a 5-year contract with Michael, worth $2.5 million. By 1985, Nike put Jordan and his signature on shoes, embroidering the distinctive logo clearly, making the shoes stand out from Nike’s previous basketball shoe designs.
Designer Peter Moore was tasked with creating the first pair of Air Jordans. The Nike Air Jordan I has a design similar to some other popular Nike designs released in 1980 such as the Air Force 1, Terminator, or Dunk, but with distinctive features like the Nike Swoosh on the side, the Nike Air logo on the tongue, and especially the Air Jordan “Winged Basketball” logo. AJ1 features an “Air” cushion at the heel, ankle cushioning to limit injuries during play, and an added toe cap for better grip.
The price of $95 might sound light, but those are regular editions, while the “limited” editions are both rare and expensive.
Puma Suede Classic (65 USD) – 1968
Puma Suede – mentioning Puma, we cannot forget that classic name. Originally intended as a basketball shoe, Puma wanted something groundbreaking and creative, especially the attention from audiences and
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