Adidas AG is a German multinational corporation that designs, develops, produces, and markets athletic and lifestyle footwear, apparel, accessories, and sports equipment. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second largest globally after Nike.

Company Overview

Headquarters:
Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany.

Founded:
Adolf “Adi” Dassler officially established Adidas on August 18, 1949, after a split from the “Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory” he co-founded with his brother Rudolf in 1924.

Mission:
To be the best sports brand in the world, believing that “through sport, we have the power to change lives”.

Products:
Adidas offers a broad range of products under its “Performance” category (built for specific sports like football, running, and training) and “Lifestyle” category (casual, sport-inspired streetwear under the Originals and Sportswear lines).

Global Presence:
The company sells its products in over 160 countries through a mix of owned retail stores, franchise stores, wholesale partners, and e-commerce platforms.

Recognition:
The brand is instantly recognizable by its signature “three-stripes” logo, a motif so central to its identity that Dassler once described Adidas as “The three stripes company”.

History and Cultural Impact
Adidas has a rich history of innovation, from supplying shoes with advanced spikes to American athlete Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics to creating the first-ever production shoe with a microprocessor in 2005.

The brand has significantly influenced pop culture, most notably through its partnership with the hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. in the 1980s, which helped merge athletic wear with urban fashion. The company continues to leverage high-profile collaborations with athletes and cultural figures like Lionel Messi, Beyoncé, and Pharrell Williams to drive brand desire and market growth.