The evolution of the adidas Pro Model ADV
The Adidas Pro Model ADV’s predecessors – from an innovative basketball shoe to one of the most well-known sneakers ever
The adidas Pro Model ADV, which you can conveniently order at the skatedeluxe skate shop, in its current form as a mid-top shake shoe, might very well be called the newest chapter in one of the longest-running success stories in the world of sneakers. Originally designed as a basketball shoe in 1969, the adidas Supergrip became the preferred choice of 75% of professional basketball players in the United States within five years.
In the 1980s the low-top version of the adidas Pro Model, the Superstar, fully arrived in the mainstream through the upcoming Hip Hop culture and especially Run DMC. The adidas shoes with the unique shell toe, which got its nickname for its resemblance to shells, embodied the essence of the subcultures that emerged from the streets of the big cities. The adidas Superstar and its mid-top counterpart have left a mark in the worlds of streetwear and sneakers.
The Shell Toe enters the world of skateboarding
While skating had been closely tied to punk rock and half pipes in the 80s, the early 90s marked a period of change. During the boom of street skating many skaters were drawn to hip-hop as a subculture that was rooted in the streets. As street skating became more popular, adidas sneakers with the three stripes and shell toe were frequently worn by legendary skaters.
Whoever wore the shoe – the adidas Superstar’s silhouette is an eye-catcher in magazines and videos back then and nowadays. On the West Coast Lavar McBride and Drake Jones skated the streets of San Francisco in their Shell Toes, while Kareem Campbell used the excellent grip of the rubber toe to flip over trash cans in Los Angeles. On the East Coast, you could see legendary Washington local Pepe Martinez (RIP) shred Freedom Plaza in adidas Superstars and Elissa Steamer paying homage to the iconic sneaker in her groundbreaking Part in Toy Machine’s Welcome To Hell. This trend carried over into the 2000s, as Richard Angelides’ impressive part in the Transworld video First Love shows, in which he almost exclusively wears the older mid-top version of the adidas Pro Model ADV, which has not yet been enhanced for skateboarding.
The adidas Pro Model ADV became the internationally beloved mid-top skate shoe it is today
As part of their "Respect Your Roots" campaign, adidas paid homage to legendary skateboarders such as Kareem Campbell, Drake Jones, and Richard Angelides by releasing colourways of their iconic sneakers. With this gesture, adidas officially recognized the classic sneaker's status within the international skateboarding community. As a result, the contemporary adidas team riders such as Tyshawn Jones, Kader Sylla, Sam Narvaez and Blondey McCoy got their signature coloursways too.
And that is how this impressive journey from a former basketball shoe concludes for now in its present form as a mid-top skate shoe. With the Pro Model ADV, adidas perfectly updates and enhances the mid-top version of their iconic sneakers, fully responsive to the needs of any skateboarder. The classic and simple design of the shoe is combined with high functionality. The leather upper guarantees a clean yet classy look, while the moulded Adiprene sock liner cushions the footbed and protects your feet while taking impacts when skating. The Adidas Pro Model ADV is a versatile skate shoe that provides both style and functionality. It features a protective shell toe and a reliable grip for a long-lasting performance.
