Adidas the Brand
The company was founded by German soldier Adolf Dassler in 1924, after his return from World War I. By the mid 1920s, Adolf had been joined by his brother Rudolf and the pair continued to produce footwear specifically aimed at the sporting industry successfully under the name Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory). However, in 1948, after a succession of disagreements the brothers went their separate ways with Rudolf forming competitor brand Puma. It was at this point Adolf changed the name of his brand. The company took the name Adidas after Dassler’s nickname ‘Adi’ and the first part of his surname.
The business was kept in the family until the late 1980s when Adolf’s son died. The company soon became swamped in financial difficulty and was bailed out in 1989, by French entrepreneur Bernard Tapie who was well known for his rescuing of bankrupt businesses. Tapie moved Adidas production to Asia where rates were cheaper and the company began to flourish. It was at this time he also hired Madonna for a promotional campaign which kick started Adidas’ image as a fashionable brand.
By the early 1990s Tapie himself was in financial trouble and the brand passed over to current CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus. It was under Dreyfus that Adidas really began to grow as a trend setting lifestyle brand.
In 2002 Adidas began an ongoing collaboration with distinguished fashion designer, Yohji Yamamoto on the Y-3 collection. This range is so lauded by the fashion world that it even won a place to show at New York Fashion Week- something unheard of when it comes to sportswear brands.
Again Adidas had a fashion moment in 2004, when they collaborated with Stella McCartney producing the uber stylish womenswear collection Adidas by Stella McCartney.
In 2005 Adidas expanded its empire by buying British sportswear company Reebok. The brand is now split into three divisions: Adidas Performance which focuses on high performance, latest technology sportswear, as worn by various legendary sporting starts including, Zinédine Zidane, David Beckham and Kevin Pietersen, Adidas Originals a selection of revamped retro styles based around original 70s and 80s sportswear styles, and Adidas Style which incorporates the Y-3 brand.
Adidas Classic Styles
The Adidas brand has an endless array of merchandise covering sports from football to cricket, basketball, cycling, golf, running, yoga, tennis and even skiing. Adidas also produces body care products, eyewear and watches.
Adidas trainers are renowned worldwide for their endurance and efficiency. Popular styles include: Adistar Salvation, Adistar Ride Women, Megabounce+ Dlx 09, Adistar Revolt and Microbounce+ Fh 08.
In terms of fashion, there is no other sportswear brand quite like Adidas. With the brands Stella McCartney20range, Y-3 by Yohji Yamamoto and the Adidas Originals line, sportswear has never been so on trend. Some of styles from the Adidas by Stella McCartney include: Winter Sports Recco Jacket, Cover Up Organic Hoodie, Cover Up Run Track Top, Floxy, Sataluna, Cover Up Run Sweat Pants, Run Long Tights, Tennis Skirt, Cover Up Organic Three-Quarter Pants, Kanti, Golf Performance Polo, Cover Up Shrink Wrap Smudge Tank, Studio Performance Shorts, Studio Graphic Tee, Cover Up Shrink Wrap Dots Tee, Adva, Run Performance Tank, Cover Up Run Stripe Singlet, and Winter Sports Recco Pants.
Fashion led designs by Y-3 include: Y-3 grey poly/cotton jersey four pocket track pant, Y-3 hooded poly/cotton jersey logo sweat and Y-3 brown leather & mesh fabric Boxing trainer.
It’s no surprise the Adidas Originals line is so sought after with styles such as: Os - Sg Track Top, Rhytm Jewel Hoodie, 80s Sleek Panel Jacket, Rhytm Glitter Track Top, Preppy Track Top, Preppy Windbreaker, Adibreak Sleek Track Pant, Tournament Edition Knit Pants, Rhytm Glitter Pant, Tournament Edition Polo, 82-H Street Pants, Firebird Track Top, Supergirl Track Top, 3 Stripes Tee, Vespa Track Top, Vespa Leather Jacket, Vespa Gran Lusso Vintage Leather, Vintage Windbreaker, Zx 8000, Forest Hills Vintage, Sl 72, Beckenbauer Track Top, High Post, Low Post, 80s Track Top Driving and Ld 80s Cardigan Stripe.
