The Adidas Superstar has survived basketball courts, rap videos, school hallways and several decades of questionable trouser decisions. Its newest assignment is stranger: channeling Charmeleon without turning a grown man’s feet into theme-park merchandise.
The $110 Pokémon Superstar II begins with a deep Preloved Scarlet leather upper, then changes the familiar three stripes into claw-like shapes. Adidas adds a dragon-skin texture, character graphics and a small lace jewel, while the cream-white shell toe and sole keep the design anchored to the original Superstar. The result is recognizable from across the room and much more interesting once the details come into focus.
This is the Charmeleon entry in a much larger Adidas Pokémon collection, but it may be the easiest adult pair to wear. The red-on-red treatment does not require a viewer to recognize the character before the shoe makes sense. Fans get the references; everyone else gets a sharp leather Superstar with a little controlled menace around the stripes. That is a far better bargain than walking around with an enormous cartoon face attached to each ankle.
The shoes use a regular lace closure, textile lining and rubber outsole, with padding at the tongue and heel. Adidas lists them as unisex and offers the full run in men’s and women’s sizing. They are available now from the official website, although the collaboration is excluded from most promotions.
What You Need to Know
- Price: $110
- Inspiration: Charmeleon from Pokémon
- Upper: Red leather with dragon-like texture
- Details: Claw-shaped stripes, graphics and lace jewel
- Fit: Unisex, with men’s and women’s sizing shown
- Availability: Available now from Adidas
Why It’s Cool
Most character collaborations make the licensing agreement louder than the design. This pair shows more restraint. Adidas lets Charmeleon alter the shoe’s materials and familiar stripes rather than simply printing a mascot on the side. It works as a Pokémon collectible, but it also works as a genuinely good red Superstar. That second part is what will keep it out of the costume bin after the anniversary dust settles.