How do you update an icon? You don’t change it for today, you modify it for tomorrow. 

This is exactly what adidas has done with its latest version of the classic Stan Smith. As a core silhouette in the brand’s line for over five decades, the timeless sneaker has seen countless colorways, material swaps, collaborative renditions, and even effortless adoptions on the runway to further its iconic status. Ask anyone, and we’d bet they have had their own unique introduction to the model. 

adidas’s latest iteration of the tennis classic is an important redesign in the brand’s commitment to use only recycled polyester by 2024. It is made with Primegreen, a proprietary performance fabric that is constructed from recycled materials, and does not contain any virgin plastic. To be clear, 50% of the synthetic leather upper on these Stan Smiths are is built with recycled content, while the outsoles are made with rubber waste.

The change in materials doesn’t settle at just “doing good,” nor does it take away any key design cues. It’s the same, classic look, just now more sustainable. 

The Stan Smith hasn’t been the only silhouette to receive the Primegreen treatment; tracksuits, athletic wear and performance sneakers have all been reworked with recycled materials. Additionally, Primegreen isn’t adidas’ only sustainable innovation that it’s adapting to its products. Primeblue was introduced last year, and now represents the ongoing partnership between adidas and Parley, where the two have developed a performance fabric made with oceanic plastic waste.. The brand has also made efforts to make vegan-certified products in order to easily delineate what is and isn’t animal-free. 

You can purchase the adidas Stan Smith Primegreen in collegiate green, navy, all-black and all-white now at adidas.com, with prices ranging from $85 to $100 USD. A laceless version with velcro straps drops on March 20.