Stan Smith: 40 Years of Sole | Hypebeast

For sure, I mean you have your own corner here dedicated to your shoe and your time with adidas.

I was thinking about it and I don’t think there have been very many people who have been around the company as long as I have (approximately 40 years). I’m not sure if there are some senior guys that have been around as long I have in terms of those who do all the work.

Anytime 40 years with any company is remarkable. Especially given the current environment, many people are jumping around brand to brand.

That’s a good point. When I was first with Wilson racquets and had my name on it for 20 years, I always felt you should always stick around with the same brand for your entire career. I always felt you should be loyal to those companies that gave you a chance but in reality when somebody leaves adidas, where do you go to replace them? They go to various other sports brands to look for some new endorsees.

Brand affiliation and loyalty nowadays is nowhere near where it was in the past. Especially given the frequency in which endorsements are handed out.

In the States you would once see a guy play out his whole career with one team, now it’s a rarity. I love the company and I’m glad to see it has done well.

With the numerous products releasing as part the adidas 60th anniversary, do you have any special products lined up?

Well, I guess when I think about it… [laughs] I always come back to this one [points to feet]. How can you really improve upon that one and this is the one that sells the best (white/green colorway).
There’s also some other nice recent releases such as the red nubuck version as well as in blue.

My kids and their friends really enjoyed the nubuck styles when they first came out approximately 10 years ago, they’re really comfortable. There’s so many different styles out there, in Paris last year they had a white with pink polka dots, red with white polka dots and a black with white polka dots. This year they had one that came to a point as well as one’s in boot styles. There have been some pretty funky-looking styles.

Do you keep an archive of all the shoes over the years?

I kept some, maybe 5 to 10. I wish I would have kept a few more. In Australia I ran into a magazine…

SneakerFreaker? Good peoples over there.

Yea, that was the first time I had seen them in a magazine as collectibles.

There’s definitely a hobby and market for collectible sneakers. The whole sneaker culture and fans of your era can definitely see some iconic points in your shoe that you wore while playing in your shoe, no different that say Michael Jordan and his line of shoes. Thank you for your time Mr. Smith, do you have any closing words?

Thanks so much for the opportunity and support of the Stan Smith over the years and the adidas 60th anniversary.

adidas Originals Website

Interview: Eugene Kan
Photography: Season Chan