While the minimalist look of the adidas Stan Smith has made it one of the most popular sneakers on the market, the simplicity hides a much more complicated story. At a glance, the sneaker is another retro signature shoe that rose to prominence thanks to tennis champions in the 1970s, fell out of favor, and then enjoyed a comeback thanks to the resurgence of vintage appreciation in pop culture. But the real story is much more complicated. It begins way before the eponymous athlete even laced up the shoes that eventually carried his name.

StockX dug through the history books and uncovered the real story behind Stan Smith. You’ll be surprised to know how deep the story goes.

Check out the full history of the Stan Smith here.