The idea for Adidas started in a small town in Bavaria, Germany in 1924 when Adi Dassler registered the ‘Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik’. His goal was to provide athletes with the best possible sports equipment. After 25 years and lackluster results, Adi refreshed the brand on August 18, 1949. This year he concepted and registered the iconic three stripes design that Adidas was first known for. After a successful shoe line propelled interest in Adidas, in 1967 Adidas debuted their soon to be highly sought after tracksuit that turbo-charged their apparel business.
Adi was deeply invested in making the best sportswear for athletes. He frequently met with athletes and invited them to his headquarters to test new products and brainstorm new ones.
The tre-foil logo was introduced in 1972 and went on to be a favorite in the burgeoning streetwear movement. Hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. released the song ‘My Adidas’ in 1986 and the band held up the 3-Stripes shoes during a concert in front of 40,000 fans. This led to an unexpected partnership once the song became a hit. It was the first time an athletic brand had partnered with any other ambassador outside of sports which led the way for other recording artists to partner with other athletic brands.
The rise of streetwear will always include Adidas sneakers, vintage sweatshirts, vintage windbreakers, and vintage jackets. Brands have been referencing Adidas styles for decades. This lasting impact has propelled Adidas forward but originalists love the core collections from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that are still popular today.
