adidas ORIGINALS PUFFY SHELL SUPERSTAR BY GALI
In October 2025, adidas once again collaborates with Shanghai-based musician and brand ambassador GALI to launch a refreshed collection. This time, both parties draw inspiration from “shells,” using the classic SUPERSTAR shell-toe silhouette as a foundation. They reinterpret the shell-toe element through an expanded, voluminous contour, exploring the softness and strength of the individual in a noisy era under the name “PUFFY SHELL.”
This collaboration introduces not only footwear but also a range of apparel items including vests, hoodies, and detachable pants. The collection design continues the signature aesthetic of…
This shoe features a leather construction with a plush upper design, creating a “cushioned and protected” silhouette. The toe box area incorporates a suede-like material instead of traditional diamond quilting, filled with a creamy hue.
This shoe features a dual-tongue design, with the top tongue incorporating a distinctive “shell” ornament crafted from leather. Inspired by adidas’ iconic SUPERSTAR “Shell-toe” silhouette and GALI’s single “Pearl Illusion,” this embellishment includes a metal button at its base for removable customization, adding playful versatility. The inner sides of the left and right decorations bear embossed text in a special font reading “PUFFY SHELL” and “SUPERSTAR,” respectively. The outer top section displays the adidas ORIGINALS trefoil logo. The inner tongue top features the adidas ORIGINALS trefoil emblem alongside the phrase “La marque aux 3 bandes,” meaning “The Brand with the Three Stripes.” Additionally, a transparent insert at the tongue top serves as a storage compartment. Two suede panels stitched onto the tongue sides further enhance the shoe’s premium texture.
The three-stripe logo on both sides of the upper has been reimagined with pearl-embellished patches, symbolizing an inner “pearl” protected by a shell—echoing the shoe’s “PUFFYSHELL” theme. The classic gold-foil SUPERSTAR lettering has been replaced with “PUFFYSHELL.” Perforations around the three stripes enhance breathability.
The XLG midsole features a cream-colored filling for a retro aesthetic. Paired with an EVA insert cushion, it enhances the shoe’s versatility while making it more practical for everyday wear.
The heel section features suede panels with a circular PVC accent. Inside, the left and right shoes respectively bear the adidas ORIGINALS trefoil logo and the Atlantis logo symbolizing GALI herself.
The shoe box retains the classic design of adidas ORIGINALS, featuring a predominantly blue and white color scheme. Its surface is adorned with a subtle, intricate pattern, while the brand’s signature serrated three-stripe logo runs across the entire box. The trefoil emblem is embossed on the side of the shoe box.
The Evolution of the Originals Superstar
Every sports brand has iconic sneakers that define its image, and the adidas Originals Superstar is undoubtedly one of them.
From its humble beginnings as a simple, understated sneaker to its current status as a fashion icon, the adidas Originals Superstar has long been a classic in footwear design. First introduced in the late 1960s, the Superstar made its mark on the basketball court before entering its golden age in the 1980s, when it began to intersect with streetwear and hip-hop culture.
The Superstar first appeared on the court in late 1969. Thanks to its lightweight design and comfortable fit, it quickly became the choice of many basketball players. Today, we cherish the Superstar for its clean design and rich historical significance. But back in its era, the Superstar was truly a powerhouse of a basketball shoe. People even used it as the benchmark to judge whether other basketball shoes were good enough—after all, 75% of players chose the Superstar, making it the undisputed king of the court.
But it wasn’t until the 1980s, when the Superstar officially launched in the North American market, that its legendary journey truly began. The popularity of nearly every shoe style is inseparable from hip-hop culture, and the Superstar was no exception. Compared to local brands, it was astonishing that a European brand could shine so brightly at the time. On the East Coast of the United States, hip-hop pioneers began wearing the Superstar, creating an entirely unexpected sensation for adidas and signaling the Superstar’s emergence into a new era. The iconic look of the legendary rap duo Run-DMC—gold chains, leather jackets, and a pair of Superstars—became a defining style for nearly every rapper.
The emergence of the song “My adidas” and their call for fans to raise their Superstars during their performance at Madison Square Garden in New York undoubtedly cemented adidas’s status and influence. A year later, the Ultrastar shoe and oversized trefoil T-shirt debuted as part of the adidas x Run-DMC collection, cementing the deep connection between hip-hop culture and street fashion that would profoundly influence the world. Later, with the rise of skateboarding and street culture, the Superstar left its own dazzling mark in the annals of history.