Adidas is one of the most recognizable brands, not only in the footwear category. The company’s name even gave rise to the term for all types of everyday sports footwear. The brand is constantly developing and introducing new models, created in cooperation with many recognizable people. What is the biography and original history of the Adidas brand?
What does Adidas stand for?
The Adidas brand name was created in 1949. The company was founded by Adolf Dassler. Adidas is an abbreviation of diminutive of his name Adi and the first three letters of his surname Das.
Where does the Adidas brand come from?
Adidas is a German brand. Originally in 1924 was founded as Gebruder Dassler Schuhfabrik. It was founded by two brothers: Adolf and Rudolf Dassler. From the beginning, it turned out that the shoe factory was a bull’s eye. The crowning achievement of the initial successes were sporting events and related advertising. For example in 1928 Lina Radke won the 800 meters race wearing shoes of this brand. It was not the first brand to offer sports shoes, but it was certainly the first to gain such wide recognition.
The brothers were supporters of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, which is why the company developed very dynamically in the first years of its operation, being able to count on numerous facilities. During the war, it produced, among other things, footwear for the Wehrmacht. A dark page in the history of the company’s first years of operation was the use of forced laborers, who worked in difficult conditions without any remuneration.
After the war, however, the situation was reversed. In 1948, there was a split between the brothers Adolf and Rudolf.. It has not been explained yet why this happened and what was the source of the conflict. Everyone created their own brand. The first one is Adidas AG, the second one is Puma AG. Both companies were run in the same small town of Herzogenaurach. The two competing factories were also the cause of conflict among the residents. Since the Adidas headquarters is still located there, a split between Adidas and Puma supporters is also remembered today. Allegedly, the employees of these two factories did not greet each other on the street and passed each other without a word.
Source: elmundo.es
Adidas, the king of sports brands
The following years confirmed the reign of the Adidas brand as exceptional products for athletes. In 1954, the German national football team won the gold medal at the World Championships wearing the characteristic three-stripe footwear. During the next Olympic Games in 1960 in Rome, 75% of the athletes taking part were wearing footwear from this brand. This is a phenomenon that has no equal to this day.
In 1967 the company decided to expand its operations. It began to produce not only sports shoes, but also clothes. Tracksuits became a particular hit, which are still very popular and are reissued in a new version every season.
In 1985, the “Adidas Adicolor” program was created. As part of this, it was the first brand to allow personalization of its footwear. White shoes were sold with attached colored markers, which could be used to paint various patterns on the surface. It is precisely this type of innovation that has been the determinant of the brand’s development to this day.
The 80s also saw the development of rap music.. Rappers were slowly becoming celebrities, and Adidas sports products were a perfect fit for their lifestyle. In this way, the brand had a chance for huge advertising. That is why they also began to cooperate with representatives of the world of music, not just sports.
In fact, Adidas is currently a powerful group of different brands. In 2006, Reebok was acquired. In addition, it includes Rockport and Taylor Made. The brand is also conquering new markets.
Source: cultura.hu
Who is the founder of Adidas?
The founder of the actual Adidas brand was Adolf Dassler. He died in 1978. The brand was taken over by his son and wife, who had previously worked for Adidas, so they did not squander the family legacy.
How old is the Adidas brand?
The Adidas brand, still known as Gebruder Dassler Schuhfabrik, was founded in 1924, making it almost a hundred years old. There is no indication that it will give up its leadership in the category anytime soon. sports shoes and clothes.
What does the Adidas logo symbolize?
The Adidas brand logo already has over 40 years. It features a clover and, of course, three characteristic stripes. It was created at a time when the brand was developing most intensively. It was to symbolize the brand’s diversity. For some, it is not a clover, but a crown. The logo created in this way premiered during the Summer Olympics in Munich in 1972. It is worth mentioning that the three stripes themselves have distinguished Adidas from the beginning.
In 1997, a slightly changed logo was also proposed. with the Adidas inscription at the bottom and three stripes forming a mountain shape. It was meant to be a symbol of difficulty and power at the same time, and thus to illustrate that thanks to the brand’s products, its recipients are able to cope with even the greatest adversities.
For over a dozen years, the company has been signing its products most often simplified logo, which most closely resembles the original idea. There are therefore several versions of this brand’s trademark in circulation.
Brands such as Apple, Reebok and Nike have also opted for minimalist logos. According to experts, only companies that have been recognized on the market for a long time can afford such changes, for new brands entering the market it is recommended to use traditional versions of company logos.
source: creativeheads.pl
What do the three Adidas stripes mean?
Currently, the three stripes are one of the trademarks of the Adidas brand. The beginnings, however, are very prosaic: the creators placed three strips of leather on your shoes to further strengthen them. In this way, the leather used for production was more durable and provided even better support for the feet. Interestingly, in the late 40s, all sports shoes looked similar. They were made of black leather, and there was a reinforcing strap on the side. Adolf Dassler came up with an idea to stand out and used the triple stripe. It’s a small detail, but users noticed it.
Why did Adidas change its logo?
The Adidas brand has announced cosmetic changes to its logo in 2021, before the World Cup in Qatar. Among other things, the Adidas inscription was abandoned at that time, leaving the three stripes, so recognizable around the world. The refreshed logo will debut on the jerseys of footballers playing in clubs in the 2023/2024 season.
What was the purpose of these changes? First of all, the desire to simplify the logo used. This minimalism is in line with the current trend and is found among all sports brands. The logo is to be less conspicuous, but at the same time very recognizable.
source: gameplan-a.com
The most recognizable features of the brand
- distinctive logo – in the form of a clover with the addition of three stripes;
- three stripes Initially, they were meant to reinforce the shoes, but are now their visual trademark. In fact, the logo hasn’t changed since the brand’s inception;
- very good materials – the brand has focused on producing good quality sports and everyday shoes since the beginning of its existence. It is therefore not surprising that durable, yet modern materials are used;
- collaborations with the most recognizable people in the world – since 2021, brand ambassadors include Rita Ora and Pharell Williams. Adidas is also developing in the world of sports, with the brand being advertised by, for example, the most famous football players;
- original designs and trend setting – an example of such proposals is, for example, the Adidas Yeezy series, which has become the Holy Grail for fashionistas or creation of a joint project with the Gucci brand;
- modern technological solutions for athletes and more. For example, Adidas was the first brand to use NFC technology.
The biography of the Adidas brand is an interesting story of development from a factory producing high-quality sports shoes to a huge corporation setting fashion trends.