The story begins in a small Franconian village called Herzogenaurach, where the two Dassler brothers, Adolf and Rudolph, were already honing their athletic shoes for athletes in the "Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory" in 1924. The first international success with their products was achieved by the American Jesse Owens, who celebrated world records at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. From this point on, at the very latest, Dassler shoes were on everyone's lips in the sports world. After the war, the siblings' paths diverged: While Rudolf marketed his products under the name "Puma," his brother founded the "Adi Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik" in Herzogenaurach on August 18, 1949.
Adidas was committed to the goal of "offering every athlete the best possible product for their sport." And, especially in football, the company quickly set new standards. The German national team defeated the favored Hungarian team in the finals of the 1954 World Cup with soles made by Adi Dassler. The innovative screw-in studs on the shoes, which were lightweight for the time, gave the players a secure footing even on poor pitch and weather conditions.
The brand quickly became a go-to outfitter for athletes of all disciplines. Whether soccer players, boxers, golfers, decathletes, or even mountaineers – the Franconian brand had the right footwear for every requirement.
With the Beckenbauer tracksuit for the "Kaiser," Adidas entered the clothing business for the first time in 1967 and immediately set standards. They created an icon for an icon. But the brand expanded its portfolio in more ways than just this. Shoes and clothing were increasingly developed for popular sports, which quickly found fans on the streets, far away from any sporting event. The company mutated into a trendsetter and one of the most important fashion brands worldwide. Hardly any celebrity, whether athlete or not, could ignore the famous "Three Stripes," thus helping the brand achieve global fame.
There's probably no other brand in the world that has left such a large footprint in both sports and lifestyle as Adidas. The "Three Stripes," the distinctive brand logo, are recognizable even in the most remote corners and continue to inspire young and old, athletes and amateurs alike, with both familiar vintage products and the latest innovations.