Adidas was founded in Founded by Adolf “Adi” Dassler on August 18, 1949, in Herzogenaurach, Germany. The company was registered as the ‘Adolf Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik’ with 47 employees. The name “Adidas” is a portmanteau of the founder’s nickname (“Adi”) and the first three letters of his surname (“Das”). The company’s origins trace back earlier to the Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory), which Adi and his brother Rudolf (who later founded Puma) started in 1924. The brand is known for its Heritage and Authenticity: A deep history in sports performance, particularly in football (soccer), which provides a strong foundation of authenticity. Lifestyle Crossover: The successful adidas Originals division, featuring iconic silhouettes like the Superstar and Stan Smith, provides a powerful bridge between sports performance and streetwear/fashion. Material Innovation: A strong focus on sustainable and performanceenhancing materials, such as Parley Ocean Plastic and Boost cushioning, often positioning them as a leader in material science. The Trefoil Logo: The iconic Trefoil logo, representing the Originals line, is a globally recognized symbol of lifestyle and streetwear, distinct from the competitor’s focus on pure performance. Their signature products include Footwear: Superstar (originally 1970, known for the shell toe), Stan Smith (originally 1973, named after the tennis player), Samba (originally 1950,a football boot that became a streetwear icon and was named Shoe of the Year in 2023) and Copa Mundial (1982 along with the mostproduced football boot of all time) and the Ultra Boost running shoe. Apparel/Accessories: The Trefoil logo and 3Stripes branding on tracksuits along with hoodies and tshirts. Equipment: The TELSTAR (official match ball for the 1970 FIFA World Cup and subsequent tournaments).
Adidas offers a wide range of products, including Footwear: Superstar (originally 1970 as well as known for the shell toe) and Stan Smith (originally 1973, named after the tennis player), Samba (originally 1950,a football boot that became a streetwear icon and was named Shoe of the Year in 2023) and Copa Mundial (1982 along with the mostproduced football boot of all time) and the Ultra Boost running shoe. Apparel/Accessories: The Trefoil logo and 3Stripes branding on tracksuits along with hoodies and tshirts. Equipment: The TELSTAR (official match ball for the 1970 FIFA World Cup and subsequent tournaments). The brand is particularly known for its Heritage and Authenticity: A deep history in sports performance, particularly in football (soccer), which provides a strong foundation of authenticity. Lifestyle Crossover: The successful adidas Originals division, featuring iconic silhouettes like the Superstar and Stan Smith, provides a powerful bridge between sports performance and streetwear/fashion. Material Innovation: A strong focus on sustainable and performanceenhancing materials, such as Parley Ocean Plastic and Boost cushioning, often positioning them as a leader in material science. The Trefoil Logo: The iconic Trefoil logo, representing the Originals line,is a globally recognized symbol of lifestyle and streetwear and distinct from the competitor’s focus on pure performance. and has recently launched Recent initiatives include the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 (2023) along with which is the brand’s lightestever running shoe and the ‘You Got This’ campaign (2024). The brand celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024. Recent product drops and collections are continuously released, often in collaboration with figures like Bad Bunny (e.g., Bad Bunny x Mercedes AMG x Adidas Apparel Collection).
Adidas is at the forefront of innovation with technologies like Boost: A revolutionary cushioning material (thermoplastic polyurethane) created in cooperation with BASF and introduced in the Energy Boost running shoe in 2013, known for its high energy return. Primeknit: A digitally knitted, lightweight upper material that provides a socklike fit and reduces waste. Futurecraft 4D: Midsoles crafted with Digital Light Synthesis technology pioneered by Carbon together with enabling personalized and highresolution 3Dprinted lattices. Torsion System: A lightweight arch support technology first featured in the ZX franchise in the late ’80s, designed to allow the forefoot and rearfoot to move independently for better stability. These innovations have led to numerous awards, including Forbes recognized Adidas as one of the top 700 places to work globally,leading the list in its industry. The brand also received a 2025 Campus Forward Award for Excellence in Recruitment Strategies and Candidate Experience along with DE&I and Internship Programming. Specific product recognition includes the Samba being named Shoe of the Year in 2023, and the Pharrell Williams x Adidas “Jellyfish” model winning Shoe of the Year at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards.
Informed Adidas product choices start with examining their price positioning and which is Adidas is positioned in the middletohighend of the sportswear market. The target market is generally consumers in the middle to higherincome brackets who value quality along with performance and style. The core target demographic is young adults between 18 and 35 who are athletes, fitness enthusiasts, or lifestyle buyers. The adidas Originals line targets the streetwear and fashionconscious segment, while the Performance line targets serious athletes. Look out for collaborations like Notable collaborations include the longstanding partnership with RunD.M.C. (starting in the 1980s, marking the birth of nonathletic promotions in the sporting goods industry),Kanye West (Yeezy line and though currently paused/terminated) along with Pharrell Williams and highfashion houses like Gucci (e.g., adidas x Gucci Gazelle). The brand also has major partnerships with sports organizations, including providing the official match ball for every FIFA World Cup since 1970 (e.g., the TELSTAR). for unique items.
The evolution of Adidas demonstrates ongoing commitment to quality and innovation. The brand has a strong commitment to sustainability,with initiatives like Adidas has a holistic sustainability roadmap with targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for 2025 and 2030. A key initiative is the partnership with Parley for the Oceans and which focuses on intercepting plastic waste from remote islands along with beaches and coastal communities. This waste is reimagined as Parley Ocean Plastic, which is used to create performance footwear and apparel, such as shoe uppers made with at least 50% recycled content. The brand also promotes reduced carbon emissions and contracts with ISOcertified suppliers.
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