The song “My Adidas” still rings loud inside my head today…"My Adidas walk through concert doors and roam all over coliseum floors.” Throughout grade school and high school, Run-DMC helped me through a lot of life at that stage. They were tougher than leather and always on point with the lyrics in any type of weather. They are also the reason I wanted to rock Adidas sneakers when I could afford them.
Adidas was already on the map before Run-DMC put it into musical form, but in my opinion, Run, DMC, and Jam Master Jay blew the door wide open for me. So, this week, I took a little trip down the Adidas history portal to discover some things I didn’t know about this famous shoe company.
The Company Began From An Argument Between Two Brothers
Adidas was founded as a result of a disagreement between two brothers, Adolf ("Adi") and Rudolf ("Rudi") Dassler, over the management of their family-owned sportswear company, “Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik”, which was established in 1924. The brothers failed to reconcile their disagreements, so they split and started their own companies. Adi established "Adidas," while Rudi created "Puma." Although the family feud between these two brothers was more complex than a simple disagreement, it's another fascinating story worth exploring in the near future.
“My Addas” (it just doesn’t have the same ring to it)
When Adi Dassler began brainstorming company names, his initial choice was “Addas.” Thankfully, this name was already used for a German children’s shoe company and was not available for trademark. I’m sure the company would have been just as successful with that name, but…you know…what would that song sound like?
The First Non-Sports Endorsement By An Athletic Footwear Company.
Adidas made history by signing Run D.M.C., a rap group, to a $1 million dollar deal, making them the first non-sports endorsement by an athletic sneaker company. The deal was finalized after Adidas representatives witnessed Run-DMC performing their song "My Adidas" at Madison Square Garden.
The Myth
There is a common misconception about the origin of the Adidas name that needs clarification. Some people believe that Adidas stands for All Day I Dream About Sports, but this is inaccurate. The name Adidas is simply derived from a portion of its founder’s name, Adi Dassler.
What Did Those Three Stripes Cost Back In The Day?
The three stripes that have long been a hallmark of Adidas shoes are widely recognized as an iconic symbol. Interestingly, Adidas did not initially create the three-striped logo; instead, they purchased it from the owner of a Finnish footwear manufacturer. The Finnish company had fallen on hard times after World War II, and Adidas saw an opportunity to acquire the logo. The three-striped symbol was purchased for €1600 and two bottles of whiskey, which turned out to be a very good investment for Adidas.
Adidas Got Smart In 1984
The Adidas Micropacer was introduced in conjunction with the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. It featured a built-in microcomputer housed in the left shoe's tongue. This was the first “smart shoe” ever to incorporate computer technology.
The Archives
Adidas maintains an immaculate 40,000+ item archive at its headquarters in Germany. It is housed in a 2,700-square-foot, climate-controlled space and accessed only by special appointments. When visiting, Adidas-branded white gloves are mandatory.
Do you still rock Adidas shoes and gear? If so, I hope you learned at least one thing today from reading this. If you did, I would really like to hear about it.
And as always, slow down and look around. There are 100 things around you right now worth exploring just a little further. Thank you so much for hanging out with me today!