That's a Classic!

Three stripes, white leather— for generations, these design elements have been an integral part of the cult adidas Originals sneakers. Originally designed for tennis and basketball courts, the white sneakers quickly gained popularity and became a cult favourite. And over the years, people from different walks of life—music artists, fashion designers, celebrities,  et al— have repurposed many a pair of adidas Originals sneakers, turning the humble, white pair into an icon that epitomizes the wearer’s spirit and life experiences. adidas produced its first leather tennis shoe in a world dominated by canvas in the early 1960s. The Three Stripes tapped Robert Haillet, one of just two French tennis professionals at the time, to be the sneaker’s namesake in 1965.  While American Tennis Sensation, Stan Smith came to adidas in 1971, the shoe officially changed to the adidas Stan Smith only in 1978. Today The Stan Smiths solidified their place as a mainstay in both sneaker and pop culture, this time to a generation of consumers who probably didn’t even know that there’s a successful tennis pro behind the shoe. In 1969,  The Superstar shoe was originally released as a low-top basketball shoe. Nicknamed the ‘shelltoe’, ‘shell shoes’, and ‘shell tops’ for their rubber shell toe piece, this iconic silhouette is regarded as one of the major influences in the rise of the modern day ‘sneaker culture’. Basketball Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the first player to lace-up in the iconic shell toes inspiring kids to sport superstars on the streets through the 70s and 80s. In 1986, when US-based hip hop group Run DMC released ‘My adidas’, in response to the anti-sneaker sentiment in pop culture. They popularised the Superstar off the basketball court and this also marked the birth of non-athletic promotions in the sporting goods industry. The song paid tribute to the Superstar shoe, and attempted to flip the stereotype of the ‘b-boy’. When Run DMC performed ‘My adidas’ and raised their Superstars in the air, a crowd of 40000 people reacted the same way, It was nothing less than ICONIC.

A testament to the brand’s 50 years of expertise in making these classic white leather sneakers, adidas pays tribute to some of its most foundational silhouettes, bringing four essential franchises—both archival and contemporary—into a single collection identified as Home of Classics. Celebrating the enduring visual language of the adidas Originals archive and rendering the classic silhouettes in pinnacle crisp, white leather form, the Home of Classics features the all-time legends—Superstar, Stan Smith, and Continental 80 sneakers, and introduces a new classic the Supercourt. Minimalist, clean and a classic silhouette to never go out of style, the Supercourt leads the product narrative of the Home of Classics collection. A shoe featuring design elements from the archive for a new generation, the Supercourt reimagines the white leather tradition with modern colorways under the Home of Classics portfolio.

As an ode to the legacy of adidas Originals, and their most iconic designs and silhouettes over 50 years— India’s popular creators got together to show their personal style in the new Supercourts! Presenting designers Kanika Goyal and Abhishek Paatni, artist and lawyer Bahaar Dhawan Rohatgi, celebrity stylist Amandeep Kaur, and content creators Aien Jamir, Shivani Boruah, and Usaamah Siddique...expressing their individuality through shoes that were born to be iconic. Speaking about the collection, Abhishek said, “From my double-breasted herringbone suit to modern streetwear, classics as a silhouette is versatile and unbounded by trends. It is one staple you have to own.”  Shivani shares Abhishek’s sentiments, “A white classic pair of sneakers is a timeless wardrobe staple which can be paired with almost anything, be it a cute dress for a date, a formal suit for a meeting, a pair of blue denims for running errands. Not to mention the nostalgia it brings!” she said.

 

1. Aien Jamir : Content Creator

 

2. Amandeep Kaur: Celebrity Stylist

Photograph: Mohit Mukhi

 

3. Kanika Goyal: Founder and Creative Director, Kanika Goyal Label

 

4. Shivani Boruah: Content Creator

Photograph: Aman Choudhury

 

5. Abhishek Paatni: Originals Kid and Creative Director, NoughtOne by Abhishek Paatni

Photograph: Kirti Narain      

 

6. Usaamah Siddique: Fashion Blogger

 

7. Bahaar Dhawan Rohatgi: Artist and Lawyer

 

The Home Of Classics collection is available in stores now. The sneakers are also available in India at adidas Originals stores and on www.shop.adidas.co.in.

 

Photographs: Sushant Kadam; Styling: Samar Rajput; Hair and Make-up: Sonam Kapoor