Adidas Logo History
From a small family business, Adidas has grown into one of the largest sports manufacturers in the world.
As one of the famous sports logos, have you ever wondered how Adidas had become the go-to store when shopping for sportswear, footwear, and other sports equipment?
Like its well-known rival, Nike, Adidas also underwent a series of evolution before reaching its final look. Join us as we discover the history of the Adidas logo.
A Brief History of Adidas
In the minds of millions of fans, Adidas is associated with the three stripes you can find in their shoes, bags, shirts, and more. The Adidas three stripes logo is one of the most recognizable logos worldwide.
Did you know that this famous brand started with a cobbler in a small town in Germany?
Shortly after the first world war, Adolf “Adi” Dassler started making sports shoes in his mother’s washroom. Rudolf, Adi’s older brother, joined the business, and the two brothers gave birth to Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory.
Adolf convinced U.S sprinter Jesse Owens to wear his during the 1936 Summer Olympics, where he won four gold medals.
From a small business, the company now supplies sportswear for teams in NBA, FIFA, NFL, and many more!
How Much is the Adidas Logo Worth?
The iconic black and white stripes are an instantly recognizable part of the Adidas brand, but it wasn’t always the case.
Did you know that Adidas bought its logo from the Finnish sports brand Karhu for 1,600 euros and two bottles of whiskey?
During the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics, Finnish Olympic athletes chose Karhu as their footwear. Runners who wore Karhu shoes won 15 gold medals during the Olympics.
After the summer Olympics, Adidas approached Karhu to discuss the trademark sale and agreed on a final price of 1,600 euros and two bottles of whiskey.
The Evolution of the Adidas Logo
Like other famous logos, the Adidas logo you know today differs from the company’s first design. It underwent several evolutions before the famous three-stripe it’s renowned for.
Are you looking for ideas and inspiration to start your business logo? Get inspired by how Adidas changed its logo.
Check out the Adidas logo evolution throughout the years:
1924-1949
If you compare the current Adidas logo with this first design, they’re very different! The original logo featured the name of the co-founders, the Dassler brothers.
The logo featured a bird logo carrying the boot, which gives the audience the idea that the brand’s shoes are incredibly light.
1949-1950
When the company split into two separate firms in 1949, the company name “Adidas” became visible in the logo. In this version, you can see Adidas words with the two letter D’s holding the shoe.
On top of the boot is the wordmark containing the founder’s name, Adolf Dassler.
1950-1971
In 1950, things started to change, and Adidas established its ownership of the company with a new logo.
The brand wrote the wordmark Adidas in white font color and inside a rectangle with a black background. The end of the letters a and s were also sharper in this version.
1967-1971
In this version, the brand made some minor tweaks. The sharp edges of the letters a and s are now regular. The dot in the letter i changed from a dot to a square.
If you compare this version to the previous one, this version looks heavier and highlights the wordmark logo.
1971-1997
In 1971, the company added the trefoil flower logo to the wordmark. However, this logo is still present nowadays.
The three stripes are still visible, but Adidas used the trefoil to represent the diversity of the Adidas product range.
1991
Keeping the three-stripe logo, Adidas added more power and weight to its emblem. The stripes are now bolder and were rotated into a diagonal position, making it look like a mountain logo.
While the firm initially created this version for the Adidas Equipment range, you can see it from its performance line on Adidas products.
2002
From the plain diagonal version, this version uses a circle logo with three stripes to adopt a lighter and refined look.
The three stripes go across the black circle, with the wordmark of the brand name below it.
2005
The 2005 wordmark logo is a timeless callback that attracts people with the simplicity of the three stripes that made the brand famous.
The three straight stripes and the wordmark of the brand name, side by side, maintain the company’s overall aesthetic.
Elements of the Current Adidas Logo
Now you know that the Adidas logo has gone through quite a transformation. As you browse through the logo evolution, did you notice something interesting?
Adidas retains and recycles older versions of its logo creations throughout its changes! Their current logos are used for different collections and product lines. Here are the elements of the Adidas logo:
Three Stripes
Famously used for their performance and sports apparel line, you’ll find the three strips along the sides of the pants, sides of shoes, and shirt shoulders.
The three strips are the traditional form of the company’s logo, which brings you back to its original three-stripes mark that the company bought in the 1940s.
Trefoil
The Trefoil flower logo is popular with people who are Adidas fans but are outside the sports industry. From musicians to influencers, the Adidas brand is famous in the fashion line industry.
The products with the trefoil logos are not designed for athletics but are primarily for athleisure style, thus pricier. Celebrities helped make this line more widespread, including Pharrell Williams and Kanye West.
Mountain
Adidas shifted its logo to another iconic version – three stripes in a mountain shape. In the earlier 1900s, the stripes were moved to a slight angle, representing how they looked on the shoes.
Neo
In 2002, the three stripes were placed in a circle shape, which looks like an animal scratch or a path logo. This version of the logo represents the Adidas Style product lines.
Design Your Athletic Logo Today!
Every business started small – but Adidas is one of the famous brands that made their story a success! Creating its design and how it evolved throughout the years is essential to its popularity today.
Get inspired and start creating your athletic logo today! We have a community of freelance designers and a logo maker to help you get started.
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