adidas has been a legend in the sneaker world for decades now. The Three Stripes Brand is known worldwide. The mark the brand has made on footwear and sportswear is legendary. It was founded by a pair of brothers, Adolf, and Rudolf Dassler. The company started as humbly as you could imagine, with the brothers making shoes in their mother’s laundry room.
The Start
adidas started as a factory founded by brothers, Adolf, and Rudolf Dassler, in 1924. The adidas story began in Bavaria, Germany. The goals for the brothers were simple, they wanted to provide the best shoes possible for athletes. The brothers would eventually separate, and Adolf, also known as Adi, continued to create the adidas brand.
3 Stripes
In 1949 Adi Dassler registered “Adi Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik.” That year he registered a shoe that included the soon to be iconic, adidas 3 Stripes. adidas would grow in stature by being a part of the sports world, especially the soccer world early on. It would then move into the track and soccer worlds. Being an impressive performance sneaker is what made adidas an icon. Which was always the goal of Adi Dassler.
My Adidas
The RUN DMC crew grew up wearing adidas. It was their favorite brand. They did not sign an endorsement deal, and then all of the sudden fell in love with the three stripes. The group wore the adidas Superstar religiously and genuinely.
Urban Credibility
“My Adidas” was released on May 29, 1986. The song was created by RUN DMC as a love letter to adidas. The track was a part of the group’s Raising Hell LP. It shined a light on the company to a wide audience and gave the German company urban credibility. My Adidas would lead to a partnership with adidas that resulted in footwear and apparel.
Superstar
The iconic hip hop trio wore the adidas Superstar with the laces removed. This was a touch that people everywhere started to emulate. It gave new life to the adidas Superstar, which was originally produced as a basketball sneaker in 1970. RUN DMC helped to take them from athletic gear to streetwear. The leather upper, with the prominent 3 Stripes on the side, and the iconic rubber shell toe, all make the Superstar one of the most uniquely designed sneakers of all time.
Growing Beyond Sport
The adidas brand has a long history and connection with sport. It has become a global player in the sneaker industry over the past 70 years. Its global reach now includes basketball and popular culture. Partnerships with James Harden, Damian Lillard, Kanye West, Beyonce, Pharrell, and many more prominent names, have allowed adidas to become a top force in the fashion industry. adidas has mastered mixing sportswear and fashion. The Three Stripe’s popularity only continues to grow and its link to athletics and athletes is stronger than ever.
Adi Dassler
Adi Dassler passed away in 1978. Dassler played a major part in redefining what sportswear footwear and apparel could be. Today, adidas is one of the biggest names in footwear and fashion. The dreams of Adi Dassler have come true, in maybe a bigger and better way than anyone could have imagined, even Adi Dassler.
- Adam C. Better
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