For years, sneakerheads across the globe have purchased millions of shoes. Every company and its products have a cult-like following. However, what makes them unique is their origin story.
Adidas Stan Smith has a rich history. When Adidas introduced this line of tennis shoes in 1965, they called them Adidas Robert Haillet, after French tennis legend, Robert Haillet. After his retirement, the company chose Stan Smith as their tennis line’s torchbearer. Stan Smith was coming fresh from a Wimbledon triumph, and he signed a contract with Adidas in the early 1970s. According to Adidas group’s official website, Adidas Stan Smiths hit stores in 1973. The company kept using Haillet’s name until 1978. Eventually, by the 1980s, Adidas Stan Smith became a cultural favorite.
Even though tennis players didn’t prefer wearing them during matches, Adidas Stan Smiths emerged as a fashion statement for all age groups. In the late 1980s, the Guinness Book of Records added Adidas and their athlete’s name to their coveted list for selling 22 million pairs. This collaboration only saw an upward spiral, and their success transitioned into the 21st century. In the current day and age, millions wear it with pride and admiration. According to Deadline, names such as Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams, Kendall Jenner, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Alba, Barack Obama, and more love these shoes.
Stan Smith is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, and his life is the subject of the upcoming documentary, Who Is Stan Smith?. According to the film’s official trailer on YouTube, its synopsis reads, “The documentary “Who Is Stan Smith?” charts the extraordinary life of tennis Hall of Famer, sneaker icon, and humanitarian Stan Smith.”
Who Is Stan Smith?’s director is Danny Lee. Furthermore, its executive producers are LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Donald Dell.
How many Stan Smith tennis shoes have Adidas sold so far?
According to LA Times, Adidas has sold over 100 pairs of Stan Smith tennis shoes since their introduction. They are easily recognizable because of their white color and hint of green on the back.
Adidas Stan Smith was a force to be reckoned with in the 1990s; however, by 2000, the sneaker market was transforming. Its hype subsequently decreased, but Adidas had other plans. In 2011, they stopped its production, returned to their drawing board, and began working on their next masterpiece. With store shelves no longer selling these tennis shoes, demand surged. In 2013, Adidas relaunched Adidas Stan Smith and additionally announced 100 limited edition pairs, with several celebrity name associations.
New Adidas Stan Smith’s popularity spread like wildfire. Subsequently, famous singers and footballers, like Pharrell Williams and David Beckham added them to their shoe collections. In November of the same year, supermodel Gisele Bündchen wore them during a Vogue Paris fashion shoot. Throughout the past two decades, Adidas collaborated with several names, such as Raf Simons, Stella McCartney, Pharrell Williams, and more, to solidify its legacy.
In a 2017 interview with Footwear News, Pharrell reflected on working with Stan Smith and explained how the shoes were ideal for textures and messages. He stated, “The [Stan Smith sneaker] serves as the perfect billboard space for all kinds of textures and to message things.”
Adidas Stan Smith enjoyed so much success that Stan Smith himself once stated how everyone around him thought he was a shoe.
How many Adidas Stan Smiths does Stan Smith own?
According to LA Times, 77-year-old Stan Smith adores these tennis shoes and owns close to 150 pairs. He wears them regularly, however, he finds gearing them at the Royal Box at Centre Court, “too casual.” He also has a black pair with patented leather, but he hasn’t put them on. Smith said, “I’ve lobbied for quite a while but they won’t let me do it. I’ve got some black ones. They have some with a pointed toe, which is a patent leather, but I haven’t tried that.”
One of Stan’s favorite pair is a cardinal-and-gold version. In 2019, he gave a tiny pair of Stan Smiths to Kate Middleton, for her son, Prince Louis. Tabloids captured this exchange and floated over social media for several days. Recently, a CEO visited Stan’s home, and he revealed that the tennis legend owned 400 pairs.
Even though the 1972 Wimbledon champion is famous all around the world, he stated that his wife kept him grounded. He said, “I did an interview one time, and I said, `Probably 95% of the people in the world have no idea who I am.’ And my wife popped in and said, `Ninety-nine percent of the people in the world have no idea who you are.’ Thanks, honey.”
Standing at a towering 6 feet and 4 inches, Stan Smith has won it all in tennis. According to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, he has achieved numerous trophies in prestigious tournaments such as the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
