History of Adidas Shoes

Written By

Phil

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Adolf Dassller and Rudolf Dassler started the company register back ‘Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik’ (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory) in 1924

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Adolf Dassler established the “Adolf Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik” and hired 47 workers to start brand “Adidas

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Rudolf Dassler went on to start his own competing brand, “Puma“.

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In 1954, Dassler signed German soccer star Fritz Walter to wear Adidas shoes. This was a major coup for Adidas and it helped to put the brand on the map. 

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Adidas’s Stan Smith tennis shoe was initially introduced in 1965. Originally known as “Adidas Robert Haillet” 

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Horst Dassler’s sudden death in 1987, three years after his mother Käthe passed away, meant troubled waters for adidas. 

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In 1989, adidas became a stock corporation and Adi Dassler's daughters sold their shares in 1990.  

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In 1995, six years after becoming a corporation, adidas went public 

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new marketing slogan could not sum it up better:  “We knew then, we know now”.

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acquisition of the Salomon Group and its brands Salomon, TaylorMade, Mavic, and Bonfire, the company changed its name to adidas-Salomon AG 

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One year after adidas and Salomon go their separate ways, when the latter and its brands (excluding TaylorMade) were sold to Amer Sports 

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adidas acquired Reebok, including the brands Rockport and Reebok-CCM Hockey, 

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Gucci and adidas Originals confirm that they are joining forces in a new collaboration – adidas x Gucci – combining the heritage and the creative codes of both brands 

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In 2023, adidas welcomes Bjørn Gulden its new CEO and member of the Executive Board. 

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