adidas, the brand with the three stripes founded by Adolf "Adi" Dassler emerged from the  "Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik" in Herzogenaurach.  Pure sport history! Countless sportsmen, e.g. Kaiser Franz, Ivan Lendl or David Beckham celebrated large successes with the wearing adidas shoes/products (The adidas F50 soccer shoes are legendary and not to forget the adiware comfort golf shoes). 
A highlight is the adidas originals collection, where Heritage Sneaker are brought back to on stage.  E.g. the by now legendary  35th anniversary superstar trainers, Retro Runnig, Racing and, and, and.  In addition the Limited edition about and from Missy Elliott was intruduced in 2005. 

adidas history.

1920 The very first shoe

Adi Dassler developed a gym and training shoe for runners in Herzogenaurach near Nuremberg. It cost a mere 2 Reichsmark and Adi Dassler already then conceived the three principles that still apply to his brand:

• The very best alignment of the shoe to the type of sport
• Protection of the health of the athlete
• Durability at high resistance to wear and tear

1925 - Specialisation

Adi Dassler makes use of state-of-the-art materials to save weight and introduces nail spikes and hand-made studs. He produces special shoes for track and field athletics and for football.

1928 - The Olympic Games

Dassler cares for "his" sportsmen actively in Amsterdam to optimise the respective shoe together with them.

1931 - The first tennis shoe

1932 - Olympic Games in Los Angeles

Arthur Jonath gets the bronze medal for the 100 metres and thus the first one of thousands to come in future with Dassler sports shoes.

1936 - Olympic Games in Berlin

Jesse Owens wins four gold medals wearing the shoes of Adi Dassler and is the most successful athlete of the Games.

1937 - Extension of the range

30 different shoes are offered for eleven types of sports.

1946 - Post war era

To save resources Adi Dassler makes the first sports shoes of canvas and rubber from American fuel tanks.

1947 - The label Salomon is founded

A French family makes its mark as the manufacturer of skis.

1948 - The company grows

Adi Dassler's payroll now counts 47. The 3 stripes are the distinctive branding.

18 August 1949, adidas is registered as company name

The company name adidas was formed from the first and second name of the company founder; 'Adi' for Adolf and 'Das' for Dassler. Adidas produces its first rubber stud sole.

1950 - Introduction of a classic

The "Samba" is launched and becomes the classical all-round training shoe.

1952 - The Olympic Games in Helsinki

adidas is the most-worn German sports shoe at these Olympics. adidas sports bags are launched.

1954 - Miracle of Bern

Hungary versus Germany. The German national team is wearing shoes with screw-on and replaceable studs of Adi Dassler who even adapts the shoes to the ground conditions in the break. The football shoe worn at the occasion later bore the name World Champion

1960 - Olympic Games in Rome

In the meantime 75 per cent of the athletes put their fate in the 3 stripes. The all-round training shoe "Italia" is launched at the occasion of the Olympics. This trend shoe of the time is being produced in low numbers again today. The achievements of Wilma Rudolph, who caught polio as a child and yet won gold medals in the 100 m, 200 m and in the 4 x 100 m relay.

1962 - Football World cup in Chile

Shoes of adidas are worn in all the 32 matches.

1963 - New range

adidas extends its portfolio by balls

1964 - The lightweight

The top model Tokyo 64 weighs a mere 135 grams. It is the lightest track shoe ever produced.

1967 - Textiles

The first textiles with the 3 stripes are launched.

1968 - The Olympics with the 'flop'

adidas is now also making products for fringe sports. The high jumper Dick Fosbury, wearing adidas shoes, catapults himself over the bar in the flop technique which now bears his name. adidas gives a one year guarantee for its soles made of PE. The first jogging shoe named Achill is introduced.

1970 - Football World Cup in Mexico

adidas introduced the Telstar as official ball. adidas footballs have been used ever since in all major football events.

1971 - The fight of the year

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier face each other wearing their adidas boxing boots.

1972 - European football championship

Germany wins the championship in adidas shoes. The adilette is launched and develops into a true classic

1974 - Germany is world champion

After the European championships, Franz Beckenbauer (the Kaiser) holds the World Cup aloft. In the finale versus Holland his team won 2:1. adidas produces its first tennis racquet.

1976 - The Olympic Games in Montreal

Edwin Moses wins the gold medal in the 400 m and the 800 m. The TRX jogging shoe is introduced. This is the year in which adidas sets its course in winter sports

1978 - The tango of goal getters.

All the goals at the World Cup in Argentina are shot with the Tango
Adi Dassler dies at the age of 78. The business goes over to his son Horst Dassler.

1979 - The Copa Mundial is launched

this shoe is to become the most-sold football shoe of all times

1980 - European champions - Germany for the second time

The national team of Jupp Derwall is fitted from head to toe in adidas in the second victory.

1984 - The Olympic Games in Los Angeles

124 of the 140 nations compete with an adidas product. 259 medals are won by athletes bearing the 3 stripes.

1985 Basketball European Championship

Eleven of the twelve teams wear adidas shoes. The independent German producer test institute gives the running shoe Marathon Training a very good. adidas is awarded the "German Marketing Prize". Ivan Lendl ranks No. 1 in tennis.

1986 - Football World Championship in Mexico

The ball on the pitch is the adidas Azteca

1987 - Death of Horst Dassler

Horst Dassler dies at the early age of 51.

1988 - adidas TORSION® is launched

This revolutionary sole system is still used in a variety of sports shoes today.

1989 - Private limited company

adidas is converted into a family-controlled private limited company.

1991 - Introducing EQUIPMENT

The adidas label for performance-oriented shoes and textiles

1992 - adidas Streetball Tournament

adidas organises its first streetball tournament at the Marx Engels Platz in Berlin. What was considered to be a trend in 1992 has turned into an accepted sport.

1993 - with a new management

CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus transforms the company from a production and sales oriented company in a global marketing corporation. Madonna and other trend-setters don themselves with the classics of the 70ies. Gazelle goes into limited production again.

1995 - 75 years adidas - it goes public

adidas is floated successfully in Frankfurt and Paris

1996 - Atlanta

adidas equips 6000 athletes from 33 countries. 220 medals, 70 in gold go to adidas athletes. The sales of adidas textiles are increased by 50 %

1997 - The founding of adidas Salomon AG

Salomon, Taylor Made, Mavic and Bonfire are united under one name in December 1997: adidas - Salomon AG.

2000 - Euro in Holland and Belgium, the Olympics in Sidney

Not only Zinedine Zidane wear the revolutionary football shoe adidas EQUIPMENT Predator® Precision but also David Beckham, Patrick Kluivert and Alessandro Del Piero. The official ball for the tournament is the Silverstream of EQUIPMENT. adidas is represented by over 3000 athletes at the Olympics in Sidney and thus the leading fitter. Adidas produces the very first ever sport article soap with Road to Sidney and is decorated with the Clio award.

2004 - Impossible is Nothing

This is the central message accompanying adidas into the future.

2005 -Pole vaulter Elena Isinbayeva becomes the first female to clear 5 metres.  Sale of Salomon

The Salomon Group (including Salomon, Mavic, Bonfire, Cliché and Arc’Teryx) is being sold to Amer Sports in October 2005. The new adidas Group is focusing even more on its core strength in the athletic footwear and apparel market as well as the growing golf category. The legal name of the company will change to “adidas AG” in May/June 2006.

2006 - adidas-Salomon AG acquires Reebok

The closing of the Reebok transaction on January 31, 2006 marks a new chapter in the history of the adidas Group. By combining two of the most respected and well-known brands in the worldwide sporting goods industry, the new Group will benefit from a more competitive worldwide platform, well-defined and complementary brand identities, a wider range of products, and a stronger presence across teams, athletes, events and leagues.

2007- adidas China Campaign Olympic Games - „Together in 2008, Impossible is Nothing”

 

2008- UEFA EURO 2008™

adidas: Celebrate Originality