We’re not entirely sure why Adidas decided to kill off the Stan Smith silhouette back in 2012. What we do know is, the shoe seemed bigger than ever when it was relaunched two years later. Such is the silhouette’s success that we’ve seen seemingly endless offshoots and copycats. The latest of the lot, the Adidas Originals Stan Smith Primeknit, strips down the already-minimalist model even further, turning out a pair that casts the classic tennis sneakers in a whole new light.
While it’s not the first version of the Stan Smith to sport a knitted one-piece upper, the new model sets itself apart by losing certain signature details, resulting in a shoe that resembles the original silhouette while lacking some of its defining elements. As such, it looks like an entirely new shoe, albeit in a seemingly familiar profile.
The Adidas Originals Stan Smith Primeknit ditches the perforated side stripes and contrasting colors (tongue and heel) that defined most every Stan Smith variation, coming instead in tonal colorways, with no three stripes logo on the sides. Truth be told, it looks like an ultra-relaxed pair of summer plimsoles instead of tennis shoes – the kind that looks so good you’ll probably wear it out by the time autumn rolls around. Features include a white leather heel panel, tonal flat laces, tonal Stan Smith branding on the tongue, and rubber outsole.
Available in white and black colorways, the Adidas Originals Stan Smith Primeknit is priced at £95.