History of Adidas

Adidas originated from Germany, specifically in Herzogenaurach. This is near Nuremberg. Adidas is a quintessential success story. It all started with the brothers Adi and Rudi Dassler. Their shoe factory was focused on making the best shoes for all kinds of sports. This was one of the firsts shoe manufacturers who partnered with different athletes to get feedback, for promotion and to afvertise their shoes. When World War II ended, the brothers part ways. Adi was left to create the Adidas Empire.

Beginning

When Adolf Dassler was still 20 years old back in 1920 he created his first running shoe. On 1924, his brother partnered with him in the shoe manufacturing industry. The shoe factory that they established in Herzogenaurach made the first trac shoe and soccer shoe that has studs and spikes. The debut of their shoe factory in the Amsterdam Olympics was on 1928. After that, their shoe was used in the Olympics ever since.

World War II

During the Berlin Olytmpics in Berlin, Jess Owes garnered four gold medals wearing the shoes that the Dassles manufacture. During 1937, Dassler shoes already manufactured 30 different kinds of shoes for 11 different sports. They already have a hundred employees during that time. However, duirng World War II, Hitler wanted factories to be used for war works. During that time, Dassler created rockets that can destroy tanks. After the World War II, the Americans became the biggest customers of Dassler. 

Adidas

Rudi Dasler left Adi in 1947 and created Puma. After one year, Adi created Adidas. Adi used his own name to create the name “Adidas.” it was in 1949 when the three stripes logo was created by Adi. In the later parts of 1949, Adidas created the soccer shoes that led Germany to win the 1954 World Cup. Adidas is always present in whatever sports event. This made Adidas as one of the first shoes to be used by athletes for promotion of the brand.

Continuation

Adidas continued to dominate the sports events. They created other apparels for sports events like bags and balls. Some of the champions in the world was wearing Adidas when they won. Some of these champions were Dick Fosbury, Muhamad Ali, and Joe Fraiser. When Adi died in 1978 his son Horst and his son’s wife Kathe took over the family business. Horst established the brand in France. When Horst died, an investor from france named Bernard Tapie bought the company using money that he borrowed. He then expanded to Asia and sponsored streetball tournaments. He was unable to pay his debt, Crédit Lyonnas turned his debt into equity. Robert Louis-Dreyfus became the company manager and bought the company during 1993. Adidas went public again when it used Kobe Bryant for promotion. Now it owns Reebok and is using technology for its brand.