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The 3 stripes or the trefoil logo make Adidas sneakers and other products recognizable from afar - but do you know the story of the brand from Herzogenaurach, a small town of 20,000 inhabitants in Middle Franconia?

The Story Behind The Sports Brand

In the early 1920s, brothers Adolf and Rudolf Dassler made the first Adidas shoes in their mother's laundry room. Initially, they produced specialized shoes for footballers and runners, perfectly adapted to the athletes' feet. In the following years, more sports (including tennis) were added to the portfolio, and the brand became increasingly popular thanks to athletes who won Olympic medals in Dassler shoes. However, disputes between the brothers led to their final separation after World War II - Rudolf Dassler then founded Puma. Adidas (a combination of Adolf's nickname "Adi" and the first letters of his last name) gradually expanded its product range, producing sports pants, tracksuits, and in 1963, the still very popular "Adiletten" slides. After the death of his father, Adi's son Horst transformed Adidas into a lifestyle brand, establishing Adidas sneakers like the Sambas outside of sports - where the brand today competes with Nike, New Balance, and others for the favor of "sneakerheads."