An icon goes earth friendly — Adidas Superstar “SuperEarth”

Last August 29, Adidas released a new version of their classic Superstar sneaker in collaboration with one of the emerging figures in the sneaker industry, Sean Wotherspoon. It’s called the Adidas Superstar “SuperEarth.” The Superstar, which was initially introduced decades ago by Adidas as a basketball shoe, has since been widely accepted and well-loved over the years. Starting from its basketball roots, it was then adopted by the hip-hop scene in the 80s, becoming a popular sneaker in the streetwear game during the 21st century, and has now ultimately become a staple and icon not just for The Three Stripes, but for the entire footwear industry. In fact, I have many sneaker memories as a self-proclaimed “sneakerhead,” with one of my earliest memories being to ask my parents for a white Adidas Superstar with navy blue stripes which caught my eye as a young kid. This just goes to show how timeless a classic sneaker like this is.

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As one of the founders of Virginia-based vintage sneaker store Round Two, Wotherspoon has since accomplished a lot having entered the industry at the relatively young age of 23. Since then, not only has he opened more store locations and has started a successful YouTube channel where he showcases rare sneaker finds, but he has also impressively collaborated with multiple prominent sneaker brands Nike, Asics and, most recently, Adidas.

Wotherspoon’s love for vintage goods and being a vegan advocate himself is no less reflected in his Adidas collaboration. While still retaining the original look of the Superstar, this shoe is sprinkled with Wotherspoon’s imprints, specifically in terms of sustainability and eco-friendliness. 100% recycled polyester lining, recyclable cork insole cover made from leftover OrthoLite material, rubber outsole containing 10% recycled content, PU-coated recycled polyester upper, and being animal ingredient-free are the many aspects highlighted in this shoe.

In the process of the shoe’s creation, Wotherspoon stated that, “we researched plant-based, recyclable, alternative and vegan materials that we could incorporate into the shoe so it can have multiple lives.” In terms of recycling and sustainability, this partnership made perfect sense for both parties, as we’ve seen Adidas partner with the organization Parley in the past in creating sneakers made from recycled plastic waste from the ocean.

In addition, Wotherspoon also puts his signature colorful touch, as seen in his previous collaborations, with the embroidered flowers around the shoe. This then leads to the question: so how does the Adidas Superstar “SuperEarth” compare to his other collaborations? For starters, it’s quite difficult for this shoe (or any shoe for that matter) to top his Nike Airmax 97 collaboration due to the success, popularity and hype that it garnered, especially with many considering that to be the shoe of 2018. Personally, I’d even go as far as saying that if I were given the chance to get any shoe at all, it would be his Nike Airmax 97 collaboration. That work of art is as beautiful as a sneaker can get.

Moreover, his colorful and playful touch is also seen in his work with Asics on the Gel Lyte III released earlier this year. Similar to his Nike collaboration, the Gel Lyte also sports a multicolored corduroy upper. My favorite feature of this shoe would definitely be its Velcro detachable Asics logo on the side, which you can mix and match with variously colored logos that accompany the shoe when purchased. It would be difficult, however, to currently determine this shoes’ success and popularity having only been released early last month.

Returning to the previously stated question, I wouldn’t put the SuperEarth above his Nike Airmax 97 because I prefer the Airmax model over the Superstar in general, and I absolutely love the Airmax 97’s color scheme as compared to the Superearth’s colorful floral vibe. On the other hand, I would also put his work with Asics above that of Adidas (although not as far ahead as his Nike work) because of the creativity and self-expression that comes with the Gel Lyte III, especially with the customizable Asics logo.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the SuperEarth doesn’t possess any value. In terms of its purpose and objective, I would put the SuperEarth ahead of the other two with how both Adidas and Wotherspoon made it a point to use different recycled material with the goal of sustainability in mind, something that isn’t necessarily seen in his other works. As both a sneakerhead and someone who genuinely cares for the environment, seeing these two aspects put into one plays a big role in why I like a sneaker — evident as to why I got myself a pair of the aforementioned Adidas x Parley sneaker release.

Overall, the Superstar in itself is a cultural icon and Sean Wotherspoon has been knocking it out the park with his previous collaborations, but outside of the shoes’ advocacy for sustainability, I personally don’t really see myself rocking these sneakers. With Wotherspoon’s continuous rise in the industry due to his many successful collaborations, I wouldn’t be surprised to see many more from him in the years to come.