History of Adidas

Adidas was founded in 1949 by Adi Dassler in Herzogenaurach, Germany, following a split with his brother Rudolf, who founded Puma around the same time. The company had roots in shoe manufacturing dating to the 1920s and built early recognition through athletes who used its footwear in international competition. The three-stripe design became a defining visual element of the brand.

Through subsequent decades, Adidas extended its product range to include apparel and accessories alongside footwear. Models such as the Stan Smith, Superstar, and Samba gained widespread adoption beyond sport, crossing into streetwear and fashion markets. The company developed proprietary cushioning and material technologies and went public in 1995. It acquired Reebok in 2006, though that acquisition was later divested in 2022.

Adidas has operated a commercial presence in Israel through retail partners and licensing arrangements. The company has faced recurring questions from human rights organisations about its activities in the region, as well as scrutiny over labour standards at its contracted manufacturing facilities across Asia. In 2022, Adidas terminated its partnership with Ye (formerly Kanye West) following public controversy, resulting in significant inventory write-downs that weighed on its financial results.

Adidas reported revenues of approximately €22 billion in 2023 and is implementing a restructuring plan under new leadership following a period of declining profitability. The company continues to face pressure from consumer and investor groups on issues including supply chain transparency, environmental performance, and its commercial decisions in politically sensitive markets.