Every sportswear enthusiast knows how iconic Adidas is. We all can recognize the Adidas brand by seeing its iconic three stripes. 

Adidas holds the title of the largest sportswear brand in Europe and ranks second globally. Although many other sportswear brands are popular worldwide, no brand except Adidas has won people’s hearts in all aspects of life, such as fashion, lifestyle, and sports. Even though Nike has been the biggest competitor in the sports industry, there’s a reason facts about Adidas and Puma are often linked together.

This article will continue with some interesting facts about Adidas that showcase this brand’s influence and provide insight into the future.

But first, let me take you to the Quick intro.

Quick Intro 

Adolf Dassler founded Adidas. Initially, He started a shoe business with his brother Rudolf Dassler from their mother’s laundry area in a small German town. 

Their first company was named “Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory.”

However, after World War II, both brothers split up their family business due to misunderstandings. Adolf Dassler established his own sports brand, which he named Adidas. Likewise, his brother Rudolf Dassler also started a new sports brand called Puma.

Yes, that’s right, Puma.

15 Interesting Facts About Adidas

You love shoes; you have shorts. Here are the most interesting facts about the top sports brand Adidas. 

Sibling Rivalry

In 1948, two brothers disagreed regarding the future course of their family business, Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory, Originally founded in 1924. The two brothers had divergent visions of how to develop the footwear business, which ultimately led to splitting up all the assets and each going on to create a new separate brand.

You may have heard the name Rudolf, the brother of Adi, who established Puma. Their lifelong rivalry never ceased, and ironically are now buried in the same cemetery.

It Was Almost Called Addas

The creator of the company, Adolf “Adi” Dassler, wanted to name his brand “Addas” after he split with his brother Rudolf “Rudi.” But as Barbara Smit mentioned in her book Sneaker Wars, this name was already taken by a kid’s shoe company in Germany. So, he just added an extra letter to it. Similarly, his brother wanted to name his new company “Ruda,” but this name was considered inelegant and clumsy. So, he picked the name “Puma” instead.

Adidas Park tree

There was a park in Boston that people called “Adidas Park.” Here, you are only allowed to wear Adidas shoes. If you dared to wear shoes from Nike or Puma, you might have your shoes snatched and hung on the park’s “tree of shame,” where lots of non-Adidas shoes were already hanging.

David Beckham Is Adidas For Life

In 2003, he signed a lifetime contract worth $160 million to be a brand ambassador. Even though he played his last professional game in 2013, you can often see him in the media these days, hitting the gym in Adidas clothing.

Jesse Owens was An Early Adopter

Before the creation of Adidas, Adi was focused on creating sports shoes with spikes, which were more or less cleats but made using nails inserted into the soles. During the 1936 Olympic Games, Adi was aware that German athletes would use his spikes, but he was determined to have Jesse Owens wear them even though he would be competing against the Germans.

Owens was convinced after testing a third pair; he stated that “he wanted those shoes or none at all.” Following this, he secured four gold medals.

The Iconic Three Stripes Came From Another Brand

The three stripes are globally acknowledged as Adidas’ signature but didn’t belong to Dassler until 1951; it belongs to a Finnish shoe company, Karhu. Adidas purchase the trademark from Karhu in exchange for €1600 and two bottles of whiskey.

When Adidas started making apparel, it chose the trefoil, a plant with three-leaf clovers, as its logo, which fit the brand’s existing stripe motif. The credit for blending the stripes into the leaf logo goes to Hans Fick, a designer based in Nuremberg.

They Have An Online Museum

You can explore all Adidas products throughout the decades on their archived website, Https://Www.Adidas-Archive.Org/. The site lets you learn about the designers, view past catalogs, and spend time online.

The Real Meaning of Adidas

One of the most interesting facts about Adidas and a popular myth is that Adidas is an acronym for phrases such as “All Day I Dream About Soccer” or “All Day I Dream About Sports.” However, the truth is that Adidas originated from its founder, Adolf “Adi” Dassler.

The Most Extensive Vintage Adidas Sneaker Collection Is in South America.

The most extensive collection of vintage Adidas items worldwide is in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The owner of this unique collection is a sneaker enthusiast named Carlos Ruiz. He holds rare Adidas shoes from the 70s and 80s, including the black and red Samba, because he claims collecting these items is like therapy to him.

Computer Footwear

Long before FitBits and popular wearable technology, Adidas launched the world’s first sneakers utilizing computer technology, which was a big deal. These sneakers, named the Micropacer, were introduced in 1984 and could track pace and calories burned.

The Brand Embarks On Space in 2017

Y-3, Adidas’ fashion label, and designer Yohji Yamamoto, declared in January that passengers on the first commercial space flight by Virgin Galactic (including Leonardo DiCaprio and Richard Branson) would wear jumpsuits and boots from their brand. The initial designs of these one-piece suits and boots, made from leather and fire-resistant materials, have been crafted. The Y-3 team will continue refining these designs through testing until the launch date, which has yet to be determined.

Tyre Treads

The tread patterns on car tires inspire the traction design on Adidas’s Tubular shoes. This technology, offering enhanced grip, stability, and fashion, is currently featured on the Tubular Snake models.

40 Million Trainers

Their top-selling shoe is the Stan Smith, named after the American tennis icon of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. They’ve sold more than 40 million pairs of this shoe, which equals half of Germany’s current population or the entire population of Algeria.

Adidas, Run DMC, and a Million-Dollar Deal

The famous rap group Run DMC received their endorsement contract after a performance at New York’s Madison Square Garden. During their popular song “My Adidas,” the group asked the audience to hold up an Adidas shoe. An Adidas executive at the concert was so impressed that they immediately offered Run DMC a $1 million endorsement deal.

Adidas Is a Sustainable Brand

Adidas is committed to improving ocean health by ending the worldwide plastic crisis. They upcycle plastic waste to produce apparel and shoes. An excellent example is the Futurecraft Loop, a shoe made entirely from plastic waste and 100% recyclable.