Quick Facts
- Hand-crafted in Italy using premium calf leather for the upper, debossed canvas on leather Three Stripes, cashmere shoelaces with detachable tips that require a screwdriver to change, and silver-plated adidas and Trefoil lace jewelry
- The triple-black colorway is made with a half-moon heel collar like the original 1969 prototype, but adds bits of adidas’ modern comfort with a Lightstrike Pro midsole
- The adidas Superstar A-Type Core Black will be released May 7, 2026
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Every icon has a beginning. For the adidas Superstar, that start goes back to 1969, when the shell toe design debuted as a low-top basketball sneaker. Over the years, advancements in footwear technology quickly pushed the Superstar off the court, but the silhouette never disappeared, instead starting a second life as one of the most popular lifestyle shoes ever. As adidas continues its recent Superstar push, the brand is bringing back an OG ‘69 prototype crafted from luxurious Italian leather.
The adidas Superstar A-Type Core Black is a return to tradition in the most premium form possible, continuing the A-Type series that debuted in 2025. Hand-crafted in Italy using premium calf leather for the upper, debossed canvas on leather Three Stripes, cashmere shoelaces with detachable tips that require a screwdriver to change, and silver-plated adidas and Trefoil lace jewelry.
The triple-black colorway is made with a half-moon heel collar like the original 1969 prototype, but adds bits of adidas’ modern comfort with a Lightstrike Pro midsole. Finally, in what we can only assume is a shoutout to Run-DMC, the pair is constructed with elastic straps to hold down the tongue, so they can be worn without laces.
The adidas Superstar A-Type Core Black will be released May 7, 2026 through select boutiques that carry adidas in-store and online. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is set at a staggering $1,000. For all the latest adidas Superstar news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever App.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
