The Full History of Adidas

Adidas. This name is one that echoes around the world. Whether you are a football fan, a runner, a sneakerhead, or someone who just loves fashion, Adidas is a name that you have probably heard. But have you ever wondered where it all began? How did this brand that now dresses athletes, musicians, and everyday people around the world come to be? Well, sit back, because the history of Adidas is one of innovation, family rivalry, and sportsmanship.

The story begins in the small town of Herzogenaurach, Germany. It was here that two brothers, Adolf (Adi) Dassler and Rudolf Dassler, were born. Adi, the younger of the two, had a love for sports, especially running. He believed that athletes needed better shoes to perform at their best. This passion led him to experiment with making shoes in his mother’s laundry room. In 1920, he started his own small company, and in 1924, he joined forces with his brother Rudolf. Together, they created the “Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory.”

The company quickly grew, and soon their shoes became famous for their quality and craftsmanship. They were known for providing athletes with shoes that gave them an edge. In 1936, their shoes were featured at the Berlin Olympics. The famous track and field athlete Jesse Owens wore Dassler’s shoes, and he won four gold medals. This moment was a huge breakthrough for the brand. The world took notice of these new shoes, and Adidas began to establish a reputation for creating shoes that helped athletes win.

However, despite their success, a dark time came for the Dassler brothers. World War II broke out, and the brothers’ relationship began to sour. The stress and tension of the war, combined with personal differences, eventually led to a split. In 1948, Adolf and Rudolf went their separate ways. Adolf (Adi) Dassler continued his work with shoes and founded the company that would eventually become Adidas. Meanwhile, Rudolf Dassler went on to create his own company, which became Puma. From that point on, the two companies were rivals, and the brothers never reconciled. It is said that even after their deaths, people in Herzogenaurach still refer to the town as divided: on one side you have the Adidas people, and on the other, the Puma people.

But Adidas did not let the rivalry stop its growth. After the war, Adi Dassler was determined to rebuild his company. In 1949, he officially registered the brand name Adidas, a combination of his nickname “Adi” and the first three letters of his last name “Dassler.” The famous three stripes, which are still the symbol of Adidas today, were also introduced at this time. Initially, the stripes were used for added stability on the shoes, but they eventually became a signature design feature of the brand.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Adidas continued to grow. The company started sponsoring athletes and teams, and Adidas became synonymous with performance in sports. The brand was especially popular in football (soccer). In 1954, the German national football team wore Adidas shoes in the World Cup. The team went on to win the tournament, and Adidas shoes were now seen as the best in football.

The 1960s and 1970s saw Adidas become more than just a shoe brand. It became a global icon. The company started to expand beyond Germany and open factories and stores in different parts of the world. By the 1970s, Adidas was sponsoring high-profile athletes, including basketball legends and track stars. The brand became a status symbol. One of the most famous moments in Adidas history happened in the 1972 Munich Olympics. American sprinter Tommie Smith wore Adidas shoes while making his iconic Black Power salute on the podium, which gave Adidas even more attention worldwide.

The 1980s were a golden decade for Adidas. The company was now a household name, and Adidas shoes became a staple of popular culture. Hip-hop artists, especially in New York City, started wearing Adidas sneakers, particularly the classic Superstar model. This led to the birth of the iconic partnership between Adidas and the hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., who even released a song dedicated to their Adidas shoes called “My Adidas.” The Superstar, which originally debuted in 1969 as a basketball shoe, became a global fashion icon in the 1980s and is still one of the brand’s best-selling shoes today.

But despite this success, Adidas was facing challenges. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the company struggled with competition, particularly from Nike, which was rising in popularity in the United States. Adidas needed a new direction. The company revamped its marketing strategy and focused on innovation, performance, and style. They introduced new technologies, like the Adidas Torsion system, which made shoes more comfortable and responsive. The brand also started to look at collaborations with designers and artists, bringing a new wave of creativity to its products.

In the 2000s, Adidas continued to grow and expand its reach. The company acquired other brands, like Reebok, in 2006. The partnership with Reebok helped Adidas to become more competitive in the North American market. Adidas also began to focus on sustainability, using recycled materials in some of their products and introducing the Parley for the Oceans collection in collaboration with environmental organizations.

However, not everything has been smooth sailing for Adidas. In 2015, the company faced a major scandal when it was revealed that one of its executives, who had been involved in the development of the company’s sponsorship deals, had been involved in a bribery scandal. This incident brought some negative attention to the brand, but Adidas worked hard to restore its reputation by improving its internal processes and strengthening its commitment to integrity and transparency.

In recent years, Adidas has focused on innovation once again. The brand has embraced the world of technology with initiatives like the Adidas Futurecraft series, which uses 3D printing technology to create shoes that are tailored to individual athletes’ needs. The company has also worked to integrate more sustainable practices, creating shoes made from recycled ocean plastic and reducing waste in its manufacturing processes.

Today, Adidas is not only a leader in performance sportswear but also a symbol of culture and style. From football fields to fashion runways, Adidas is everywhere. The brand’s iconic three stripes are known worldwide, and their shoes continue to be a part of global culture.

There are also a few fun facts about Adidas that many people don’t know. For example, did you know that the first-ever pair of Adidas shoes made for soccer players was created in 1954 and was called the “World Cup”? Or that in the early days of the brand, Adi Dassler used to handcraft every single pair of shoes himself before scaling up production? Another fun fact: the famous “three stripes” logo of Adidas was inspired by the design of a pair of running shoes that Adi made for an athlete, and it was meant to provide extra stability and support.

Over the years, Adidas has had its ups and downs, but it has always come back stronger. From a small shoemaker in Germany to a global sportswear giant, Adidas has earned its place in history. Today, it’s one of the most successful and innovative sportswear brands in the world. Whether it's sponsoring the world’s top athletes, collaborating with celebrities, or creating shoes that blend technology and fashion, Adidas remains at the forefront of innovation.

As for the future, Adidas continues to push the boundaries of what is possible. With a focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and cutting-edge technology, Adidas is likely to stay at the top of the game for many years to come.