“Sneakers looking fresh to death, I'm loving those shell toes,” sings British singer-songwriter Estelle on her career-defining 2008 hit, 'American Boy'.
She wasn't alone. Back in the late noughties, the shell toe – AKA, the Adidas Superstar (to confirm the obvious: the toe box resembles a shell) – was ubiquitous.
There was just as much love when the silhouette made its debut. In 1973, three years after the shoe style launched, it's said that 75% of NBA players were wearing Superstars on the court; naturally, their fans were quick to mimic their choice in footwear, and soon, thousands of others.
And in the following decade, when the burgeoning hip-hop movement espoused the model. At RUN-DMC gigs, concertgoers would wave around their Superstars in the air as the NYC rap group performed their 1986 bop 'My Adidas' in their own shell toes (proof: here).
Annnnd (last one) seven years post-American Boy when Pharrell launched the extensive Supercolour Superstar collection. One silhouette repackaged in 50 different shades selected by the adulated tastemaker equalled mayhem.
It's ever since then that the Superstar has taken a back seat, allowing the UltraBoost, the NMD, the Continental 80, the Forum and the Samba – not to mention, the many silhouettes that emerged from the now-taboo Adidas Yeezy line – have their respective moments.
Until now, that is. Edison Chen, The Three Stripes' latest collaborator (a creative only just liberated from the shackles of the Swoosh [see: Clot x Nike]), says it's about time there was a Superstar resurgence.
Of course, the Canadian-born Hong Konger would prefer it if you elected for his newfangled take on the tread, the Clot Superstar. It's an interpretation of the sportswear giant's quintessential offering that bridges the gap between smart and casual footwear. And, according to the Adidas press release packaged in the same WeTransfer link as the images you see before you, the West and the East.
The upper looks relatively familiar: the shell toe remains, so do the stripes on the sidewall and the heel patch. However, the striking welted wedge sole immediately suggests something's different, before the sheen of the leather, the jagged edges, the tassel-embellished laces, the decorative perforations and the dual-branded tongue confirm that this is not your run-of-the-mill, general release Superstar.
It's something much more exciting: a real chance for the silhouette to propel back into what's hot.
To increase the chances of impact, Adidas and Chen recruited Millennial/Gen-Z poster boy Brent Faiyaz to star in the campaign. The alluringly nonchalant R&B singer demonstrates the shoe's suitability for semi-formal situations (he sports the sneaks with jeans, a shirt and a striped blazer in what looks like a cocktail bar) alongside international talent of a similar calibre.
The campaign, like the shoe itself, is fresh, current and genuinely cool – words we haven't associated with the well-known trainer in a long while. And it's in good company as a Superstar dreamt up by rising skate label Always Do What You Do is on its way shortly, as is the highly anticipated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Adidas Superstar pack which, yes, is defined by its turtle-shell toes.
It's set to be a Superstar spring, then, so we say start stepping in them from now.
When is the Edison Chen x Adidas Clot Superstar releasing?
The Clot Superstar is dropping on Friday 23 February 2024.
Where is the Edison Chen x Adidas Clot Superstar releasing?
The Clot Superstar is dropping on the Adidas Confirmed app at 9 am. To be in with a chance of securing a pair directly from The Three Stripes, enter the drop before 8:30 am on release day.
Additionally, the Edison Chen x Adidas shoe is being released via raffle at End, SNS and other select Adidas retailers.
How much does the Edison Chen x Adidas Clot Superstar cost?
The retail price of the Clot Superstar is £170. Prices on resale websites like StockX will vary.
