adidas

adidas - from a laundry room to the whole world

With an iron will to continuously break boundaries, the sportswear giant adidas has made it to the top and can easily keep pace with other companies such as Nike in terms of awareness and popularity: Founded in 1949, the brand from Herzogenaurach in Franconia is one of the most successful sporting goods manufacturers in the world and is just as popular in professional sport as it is in the lifestyle sector. Whether it's classics like the adidas Superstar and adidas Stan Smith or newer adidas sneaker silhouettes like the Ultra Boost - there's something for every sneakerhead.

In addition to a very turbulent history, adidas is known above all for its technological milestones and fighting spirit. It is no coincidence that the company's mission is to be the best sports brand in the world and to constantly expand the possibilities of human performance.

In this article, we take you on a little journey through time to Middle Franconia and reveal the absolute sneaker highlights of the global brand.

A Franconian shoe factory

The adidas brand was founded in 1949 by Adolf Dassler - but the beginnings of the sportswear company go back much further. His father was already a shoemaker with his own small factory, but mainly made felt slippers. However, the two brothers were keen sportsmen and women, so it was only logical that they would soon be tinkering with sports shoes - in their parents' laundry room. In the mid-twenties, the brothers Adolf and Rudolf founded the Gebrüder Dassler shoe factory and the first professional models appeared just one year later. Their mission: to offer all athletes the best possible product for top performance. By the end of the 1920s, athletes were already winning gold with the shoes and at the 1936 Olympic Games, athletes wore shoes from the Dassler brothers - a huge success!

The Miracle of Bern

During the Second World War, an anti-tank weapon was produced in the shoe factory, which is why Adolf was exempted from military service. 

After the war, the brothers fell out so much that they divided up the assets and would go their separate ways from then on -  the beginning of the adidas and Puma brands.

The trademark - the 3 stripes - was quickly registered and Adi Dassler continued the ambitious development of sports shoes. The separation of the brothers did not seem to have any disadvantages for adidas: in 1954, the company equipped the German national team with the legendary screw-in stud soccer boots - the rest is probably history.

After this victory at the latest, it was clear that adidas was no longer a small player, but on its way to becoming a major global brand. Today, the brand is no longer family-owned, but the mission has not changed: To develop products that make athletes around the world even better.

More than just a sports shoe

The secret of adidas' success is based on the trust of the athletes who have relied on the brand from the very beginning. Adolf himself has always been convinced by the performance of his shoes in order to further optimize them. This drive for the best technologies has not been lost to this day and the company is always on the run for "even better". 

This not only applied to technical innovations, but also to the products. adidas entered the clothing segment with the world-famous "Franz Beckenbauer" tracksuit and was also able to step on the gas in the outdoor segment with the acquisition of Salomon . The brand worked with fashion designers very early on and had them design entire capsules. Kanye West, Raf Simons, Yohji Yamamoto and Jeremy Scott are just a selection of the masters with whom adidas has collaborated. Yamamoto and Simons even have their own sub-brands to this day, showing that athleisure doesn't necessarily have to look like sportswear. For those who prefer something less visionary when it comes to apparel, but don't want to compromise on style, adidas Originals is the right choice. Tracksuits, hoodies and shirts with cool cuts and collections that match your latest sneaker achievement and round off your outfit.

The most popular silhouettes from adidas

All products from the Franconian manufacturer have their origins in sport. Sport is the driver, the why of the brand - and it shows. With a great deal of understanding for its customers, adidas works every day to set new standards. Over the decades, adidas has developed countless technologies and designs, rightly securing its place in the front ranks. 

In addition to clothing and accessories, adidas stands for one thing above all: damn good shoes. These include classics such as the adidas Superstar or the Stan Smith, but also hyped silhouettes such as the adidas Forum, Yung-1 or the NMD.  The NMD Human Race, for example, created in collaboration with Pharrell Williams  were immediately sold out during the first releases and caused camp-outs more than once. We have taken a closer look at the most popular models.

adidas Superstar

A true classic and one of the most popular adidas sneakers is the Superstar. Originally released in 1070 as a basketball shoe, it quickly spread to the hip-hop scene thanks to groups like Run DMC. And from there, the superstars were unstoppable! Later, many special models and different colorways followed, some of which fetch four-figure sums among collectors. Basically, the adidas sneakers for women do not differ in their basic shape, but there are different designs and colorways.

Fun fact: Due to the shell-like pattern on the toebox, the adidas Superstar was also known as the Shelltoe. However, this pattern was not just a design element - it was important for the athletes. After initial tests, the toebox had to be reinforced to be even more durable for dynamic movements and abrupt stops.

adidas Ozweego

A completely different model, but no less popular, is the adidas Ozweego. It was designed as a running shoe and even has a few more years under its belt than the Superstar. Even back then, it was equipped with adiPRENE cushioning and was later expanded to include the Torsion system, which provides additional support for the footbed. And this is exactly how we still know the Ozweego today: equipped with proven technologies, it combines a retro look with futuristic elements in terms of design. The vintage vibe is available in various colorways and a combination of suede, mesh and smooth TPU uppers.

adidas Ultraboost

The Ultraboost is one of the most successful models in the lifestyle sector. It was originally developed as a running shoe and is bursting with innovation. Together with BASF, adidas developed a completely new foam material in 2013, which ensures optimum cushioning: the Boost midsole provides energy return par excellence! Thanks to its lightness, it is not only ideal as a running shoe, but also a great companion for everyday wear. The PRIMEKNIT upper ensures the best wearing comfort and provides plenty of stability at the same time. The Ultraboost is also available in many different versions and colorways.

Impossible is nothing

Adidas is not just any successful shoe brand, that much is certain. The dynamism and iron will for sporting success are downright infectious and prove once again that boundaries often only exist in the mind. With innovative technology, special brands and new designs on the cutting edge, adidas has secured a position among the most successful sportswear manufacturers in the world to this day.

The attitude of the sports company is not only reflected in its revolutionary technologies and continuous development, but also in its unwavering optimism for a better and sustainable future. 

All adidas news straight to your smartphone!

To make sure you don't miss any more adidas news in the future, simply get our free app and we'll send you all the news straight to your smartphone. If you have any further questions about adidas or any other brand, you can of course also reach us on Instagram or Facebook.