Adidas, which meticulously maintains its mission of being the world’s best sports brand, not only creates sportswear and accessories, but also instills an active lifestyle in its users.
Whether you are interested in fashion or sports, Adidas has been serving the masses with its footwear and apparel since 1949. But what is the history of this “Three Stripes” giant? How did Adidas start? Where does the name Adidas come from? The brand, which started in a laundromat, has become indispensable for athletes and cultural icons such as Kanye West, Pharell Williams, Jeremy Scott and many more. Let’s take a look at the history of Adidas and all the moments that made them the icons they are today. Before we begin, let’s clarify a frequently asked question, namely whether there is a connection between another famous sports brand, Puma, and Adidas. First of all, there is an important connection between the founders of both brands. After Adolf “Adi” Dassler and Rudolf “Rudi” Dassler founded the “Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory” in 1924, they focused on developing the first studded running shoes for athletes. In 1947, the brothers parted ways after a family feud, Rudolf founded Puma and Adolf Dassler officially founded Adidas on August 18, 1949. The Beginnig: 1949 Immediately after founding Adidas, Adi Dassler focused on his passion for creating the best footwear models for athletes, especially soccer shoes. This passion resulted in one of his first and most successful models, the Adidas Samba. This silhouette was designed with a special sole that allowed soccer players to train on rough terrain and in difficult conditions. The Samba is the brand’s oldest shoe still in production to this day and even serves as a blank canvas for high-profile collaborations. During this time, Adi’s wife Käthe supported him in the production of other sneakers.
Where does the name Adidas come from?
Adidas was first founded in 1924 under the name Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, which means as Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory. However, in 1949, Adi Dassler combined the first parts of his first and last name, Adi and Das, to create the official Adidas name. Although some people claim that Adidas was formed from the initials of the phrase All Day I Dream About Soccer, this information is not true.
Why are there three stripes in the Adidas logo?
Adidas’ famous Three Stripes were not a logo at first, but rather the stabilizing stripes on their first sneakers. However, the original Three Stripes logo was originally a trademark of Finland-based sports brand Karhu, which naturally led to a copyright issue. In 1949, however, the owner of the brand, Adi Dassler, bought the Three Stripes trademark from Karhu Sports for what is today around 1,600 Euros and two bottles of whiskey.
Small Steps: 1950s
The 1950s was an unforgettable period for Adi. Step by step, Adidas began to make its mark in sports history. In 1952, Adidas track shoes with removable studs were worn by multiple gold medalist Emil Zatopek at the Olympic Games in Helsinki. The three-stripe brand’s commitment to soccer shoes did not go unnoticed either. Adi supplied the West German national football team with Adidas boots featuring screw-in cleats, leading them to victory over Hungary and winning the World Cup for the first time in 1954. By the late 50s, the Adidas Samba, along with other models such as the Allround Basketball Shoe, remained at the forefront of the industry, paving the way for later products to become the icons they are today.
Breaking Limits: 1960s
At this point, Adidas is no longer a stranger to the masses. But despite its growing popularity, Adi Dassler needed to break boundaries to get to the next level. As Adidas continued to sponsor athletes representing its leading models as well as introducing the Azteca Gold sprint spike, Adi Dassler unveiled his first Adidas clothing line. With the help of the famous soccer player Franz Beckenbauer, Adidas tracksuits arrived on the scene. The “Beckenbauer” lightweight tracksuit top and bottoms showcased the three-stripe logo borrowed from Adidas shoes from head to toe. Today, the Adidas Samba and Adidas Gazelle are still a staple in our wardrobes.
Increasing Popularity: 1970s
The 1970s had a huge influence on our sneaker culture that we love so much today. Legendary silhouettes such as the Adidas Stan Smith, Adidas Superstar and others that have become must-have shoes in every sneaker collection were founded in the 70s. In addition, the Adidas Telstar became the first official World Cup ball at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, highlighting the company on one of the world’s biggest stages. All this good news aside, the brand was forever changed when Adolf ‘Adi’ Dassler passed away in 1978 and Adi’s undying love for the sport was passed on to his wife Käthe and son Horst. It’s fair to say that mother and son played a pivotal role in making Adidas one of the most successful brands of all time and a legend in the sporting goods industry.
1972: Birth of Trefoil
In 1972, the Olympic Games were held in Germany, the birthplace of Adidas. The brand used this as an opportunity to introduce a brand new logo, the now iconic Trefoil. The three stripes synonymous with the brand had been at the bottom of the logo, but this new ‘Trefoil’ was used as a brand new symbol of the German powerhouse’s performance.
Further Steps Forward: 1980s
Despite the passing of Adi Dassler, there was no stopping Adidas. Once a sports-only brand, Adidas became a huge hit in the music and fashion scene with its basketball-turned-lifestyle Adidas Superstar silhouette and M45k Best bomber jacket, thanks to US hip-hop group Run DMC. This partnership was the first collaboration between a music community and a sports company and opened the doors to other collaborations we know and love today. Horst passed away in 1987, just three years after the death of his mother Käthe in 1984. The management of Adidas was handed over to an administrator and the Adidas brand ceased to be a family business for the first time. Despite these major blows to the heart of the company, the 1980s continued to be a decade of innovation for Adidas. One of the landmark innovations was the Adidas Torsion system, launched in 1988, just before Adidas was listed on the German stock exchange.
1986: Adidas in Popular Culture
By the late 1980s, Adidas was well on its way to becoming a household name. After appearing in movies like Blade Runner, Police Academy, Beverly Hills Cop and even Rocky, the brand became more directly involved in the hip-hop scene. 1986 was the year Run-D.M.C. released “My Adidas,” a tribute to the three-stripe brand.
A Slight Shake: The 1990s
With the departure of Adi, Käthe and Hörste and the sale of a majority stake in the company by various Dassler family members, Adidas was no longer owned by the Dassler family. The three-stripe brand almost went bankrupt in 1992 due to mismanagement, but when French businessman Robert Louis-Dreyfus took the helm in 1993, Adidas began a new era again. In 1993, Dreyfus launched one of the most famous boots of all time, the Adidas Predator, worn by David Beckham, Robin van Persie and many other icons of the sport. Dreyfus also launched the first Adidas website and the Badge of Sport logo in 1996, taking Adidas to new frontiers.
Years of Progress: 2000s
With world-class athletes joining the family, as well as launching new clothing and footwear designs, Dreyfus had big plans for the company. After acquiring the Salomon Group and other brands in the market in the late 90s, Adidas’ group of companies, Adidas-Salomon AG, was formalized, setting the stage for more partnerships and technology to come. Reebok signed on as a subsidiary brand, world-renowned Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto launched the Adidas Y3, Stella McCartney joined the team, and collaborations with many other big names in the industry continued.
Modern Age: Present
Fast forward to the present day and Adidas has become the world’s largest sportswear brand, with numerous partnerships including LEGO, Prada, Bad Bunny, Palace Skateboards and Manchester United. The brand’s culture may be deeply rooted in sports, but its presence on the streets is unmatched, thanks to celebrity rapper Kanye West and the ever-growing Yeezy collection, as well as Pharrell William and the Adidas NMD Hu line. Not only that, today the brand is focusing on Boost and Futurecraft technologies and a much more sustainable future. It’s revamping its basics with vegan-friendly Adidas sneakers like Parley Ocean Plastic and Primegreen. Offering a lifestyle to its customers around the world.
Adidas Originals
Inspired by the rich sporting heritage of Adidas, one of the world’s leading sports brands and a global designer and developer of athletic footwear and apparel, Adidas Originals is a lifestyle brand founded in 2001. With the Adidas archive at its core, Adidas Originals continues to build on the brand’s heritage with a commitment to product innovation and the ability to filter the creativity and courage found on the pitches and in the arenas of sport through the lens of contemporary youth culture. Defended by the iconic Trefoil logo first used in 1972 and championed by those who continue to shape and define creative culture, Adidas Originals continues to lead the way as the street’s leading sportswear brand. The Adidas brand has a long history and deep-rooted connection to sport. From major global sports like football and running to regional sports like American football and rugby, its broad and diverse portfolio of sports has enabled the brand to transcend cultures and become one of the most recognizable and iconic global brands on and off the playing field. The mission of the Adidas brand is to be the world’s best sports brand with the world’s best sports products.
Adidas Eyewear
In September 2015, German active wear brand Adidas and Italian design company Italia Independent signed a four-year eyewear license agreement. The agreement details the production and distribution of Adidas Originals eyewear, which will be launched worldwide in January 2016. The two companies are no strangers to partnering on new products; in 2014 they collaborated on the Adidas Originals ZX Flux sneaker collection. The two brands also teamed up again in February 2014 to create an eyewear collection to be showcased at the Mido fair in Milan. The eyewear collection was then launched in stores in mid-March 2015. In June 2019, Marcolin and Adidas entered into a multi-year global license agreement. Marcolin Group announced that their partnership with sporting goods brand Adidas will continue until the end of 2024. The new Adidas eyewear within the partnership started to take their place in the markets as of 2020. Under the terms of the agreement, Marcolin Group will design, develop, manufacture, market and sell eyewear products under the Adidas Badge of Sport and Originals labels. Adidas’ Badge of Sport line is characterized by innovative production techniques, high-quality materials and light weight. The glasses are designed for a comfortable fit and superior vision and lens protection. The Adidas Sport collection focuses on athletic eyewear with the best performance, contemporary and versatile, taking you from the streets and stadiums to the trails and tracks. Adidas Sport Eyewear elevates every moment, protects your vision and transforms your vision, allowing you to see all the details in any condition. While Adidas’ The Originals line is inspired by street culture and the Adidas Original lines remain true to the brand DNA, sharing the values of creativity and originality.
Kaynak: Thesolesupplier.co.uk
July 2023
