Have you ever wondered what the Adidas 3 stripes meaning? Let’s explore the meaning of Adidas logo. If you love running, being outside, or just walking in sports shoes, chances are you’ve got a pair of Adidas. And if you don’t, you probably know someone who does. But there is something to worth knowing about the Adidas logo meaning.
The Adidas logo is famous everywhere, even if you don’t speak the same language or come from the same background. It’s a brand with a lot of history and respect. Adidas began as a small sports store in rural Germany and has now become one of the biggest names in sneakers and athletic gear around the world.
Let’s explore the story behind the Adidas logo meaning.
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History Of Adidas
The founder of the company, Adolf Dassler, started making sports shoes in his mom’s kitchen. He fought in World War I for Germany and joined the Nazi party during World War II. When he came back from the first war, his younger brother Rudolf began working with him in 1924. Their shoes became popular, and by World War II, they were selling about 200,000 pairs every year.
Dassler Shoes got a big break when Adolf took a bunch of cleats to the 1936 Summer Olympics and convinced Jesse Owens, a sprinter, to wear them. Owens became the first African-American sponsor in the Olympics, which made Dassler Shoes popular. In the same Olympics, Jesse Owens embarrassed the Nazi party by winning four gold medals and breaking nine Olympic records wearing the Dassler brothers’ shoes.
During World War II, the relationship between the two brothers got worse. Rudolf allegedly deserted the army, and there were reports that Adolf turned him in. Things got even worse when Rudolf testified against Adolf about his Nazi party connections after the war. Rudolf left the company and started Puma, which became a rival to Adidas.
In 1949, the brothers decided to go separate ways. Rudolf moved to a small factory in another part of town, and they divided everything between them, including patents and employees. In March 1949, Adolf started Adidas, combining his first and last name. Adidas grew over time and became famous in soccer and track and field. Another big moment for the brand was when it sponsored the winning West German team at the 1954 World Cup.
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Evolution Of Adidas Logo Throughout The Years
1924-1949: Family Business
Adolf “Adi” Dassler and Rudolf “Rudi” Dassler, the company’s founders, made the very first logo of “Adidas”. The title was a simple shield-shaped emblem with the name “Dassler” on it, showing the names of the two brothers. The logo has a design of a bird flying with a big wingspan and holding a sneaker in its beak. They got the idea from the Dassler family crest, which represents the challenges athletes face and overcome. In the beginning, the company’s name was Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory).
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1949-1950: Conflict Between Brothers
After Adi split from his brother, he came up with a new brand name and logo. By 1950, Adi was running the company on his own, and he decided to call it “Adidas.” The first Adidas logo had his name and the famous track spikes he was known for. Under the name Adidas, the word “Sportschuhe,” which means “sports shoes” in German. The logo was usually in a classic blue color that’s now associated with the brand.
Rudolf, on the other hand, started Puma and focused on the production of soccer shoes.
1950-1971: The Adidas We Know Now
The logo underwent simplification by removing the shoe and the term “sportschuhe,” while also making slight adjustments to the font. This modified version of the Adidas logo remains in use today. The color scheme remained monochromatic, and the font retained its original style, albeit with a slight increase in thickness for added emphasis.
1967: The Wordmark That Still Symbolizes Adidas
The first Adidas logo, introduced in 1967, is still in use today. The updated version of this logo is almost identical to the original, except for a switch in the brand colors to black and white, the removal of the framing, and a change in font to a specific sans serif called ITC Avant Garde Gothic.
This version of the Adidas logo is as simple as it is effective and can be found on all of their brand materials today.
1971: Launch Of Adidas Trefoil Logo
In the 1970s, Adidas started making more than just sports shoes and began creating sportswear too. It was the first time they added a symbol to their wordmark after a long time. The trefoil logo, with three leaves and the trademark three stripes at the bottom, started showing up on Adidas clothing in 1972 and on their shoes in 1976. This particular logo design made the brand famous in pop culture. Big artists like The Doors, The Sex Pistols, Bob Marley, and David Bowie wore it, along with many others.
Today, you often see celebrities wearing it. People like Kanye West, Run DMC, Pharrell Williams, and others have helped make it famous.
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1991: The Adidas Mountain Logo
This Adidas mountain logo has become widely famous as the brand’s signature style, appearing on everything from pants and shirts to shoes. The classic three-stripe design, now displayed at an angle, blends seamlessly with the Adidas wordmark. The iconic three stripes remain unchanged.
Adidas says it symbolizes “the challenge to be faced and the goals to be achieved..” With athletes like James Harden and Lionel Messi, Adidas aims to produce gear that helps athletes outshine their rivals. The brand is all about supporting athletes who strive to be the best and promises to stand by them every step of the way.
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2002: The Circle Adidas
This logo is one of the most modern, debuting in 2002. It’s only used on NEO and collaborative items that are mostly about streetwear and fashion. The logo hasn’t changed much it’s still quite simple, and they’ve kept the same style for the font.
The wordmark sits at the bottom of the circular, striped symbol, keeping the Adidas style. Like any other clothes brand sports logo that is there, this one suggests movement and speed. But it’s more about lifestyle than just sportswear, so it’s only on Adidas streetwear collaborations.
2005: The New Adidas Logo, Horizontal Adidas
The famous three stripes designed in a simpler way. This new logo is the most basic compared to the older 3-bar designs. Though the stripes are there, this logo doesn’t feature the mountain symbol usually linked with Adidas. It’s a versatile logo representing all parts of the brand while capturing the company’s overall look.
Which font does Adidas use?
In every Adidas logo, they use a clear sans-serif font called ITC Avant Garde Gothic. Since the brand started as Adidas, they’ve only used lowercase letters in their logo designs.
How did the 3 stripes begin?
The famous stripes weren’t chosen by accident or for their symbolism. Dassler decided on them after testing different versions and realizing that three stripes showed up the best in photographs when he put them on the first pair of Adidas shoes.
Who is the current owner of Adidas now?
After the death of Horst Dassler in 1987, the son of Adolf Dassler, corporation Adidas AG bought Adidas through a public sale. Two major shareholders are a football team and a fitness company, both situated in Germany and Austria.
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Endpoint
Over the years, Adidas has been keeping a constant design for the logo which is the three stripes since 1950. Despite facing obstacles and setbacks, the company has earned its recognition, showing that a single symbol can represent an entire corporation. The Adidas logo design is straightforward yet attention-grabbing.
Learning the Adidas logo meaning, you know that the right logo can make a brand iconic. The Adidas logo meaning extends beyond mere design; it symbolizes the brand’s journey, values, and global impact.
