Stan Smith releases a new book celebrating eponymous shoe

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Sep 3, 2018

Stan Smith's name has become so iconic, some people only know it as the signature Adidas sneaker - and Smith knows that. In a cheeky homage to his namesake shoe's overpowering reputation, the former champion tennis player has released a new book with Rizolli, titled "Sam Smith: Some People Think I'm A Shoe." 

The coffee table book celebrates the globally-renowned tennis shoe model, which first gained popularity in the 1970s. Written by Smith with a forward by music icon Pharrell Williams, the book features original imagery, historical photos, an exclusive portrait series by Juergen Teller, contributions from fellow style mavens like Raf Simons and Pharrell as well as anecdotes and an interview from Smith. 

During his oft-overshadowed tennis career, Stan Smith was a top international player and a two-time Grand Slam singles champion. He was approached by Adidas in 1973, who asked the player to become the new face of what was then called the Adidas Robert Haillet shoe after the French tennis player of the same name. When Haillet retired, the brand re-launched the sneaker as the Adidas Stan Smith, as the cult tennis shoe has been known ever since.