Which adidas sneaker began as a 1969 basketball shoe and is recognized by its rubber shell toe?

The adidas Superstar began as a 1969 basketball shoe and is recognized by its rubber shell toe.

The Superstar evolved from adidas’s earlier Supergrip basketball shoe. Its low-cut design, leather upper and distinctive rubber toe cap helped it stand out on basketball courts, where players valued protection and durability.

By the 1970s, the shoe had become widely associated with professional basketball. It later moved decisively into streetwear after members of Run-D.M.C. adopted it in New York. The group’s 1986 song “My Adidas” helped turn the shoe into a symbol of hip-hop style.

People sometimes confuse the Superstar with the adidas Pro Model, a related high-top design that also uses a shell toe. The Superstar is the low-top version. Its shell toe is functional as well as visual: it was intended to help protect the wearer’s toes during play.