Adidas: Origins, Ownership, Sustainability, and Key Facts

Adidas is one of the world’s most recognizable athletic brands, but many fans are unfamiliar with the story behind the name, its ownership history, sustainability efforts, and how to spot counterfeits. This article covers essential facts about the German sportswear giant.

Who Founded Adidas and How Is It Pronounced?

A common myth claims that adidas stands for “All Day I Dream About Sports.” While catchy, the name actually comes from its founder, Adolf Dassler, who was known by the nickname Adi. Combining “Adi” and “Das” from his last name gives the brand its name. The correct pronunciation is “uh-dee-duhs,” slightly different from the original German.

Who Owns Adidas?

Adidas was partially owned by French businessman Bernard Tapie, who sold his stake in 1993. He has since faced fraud allegations and was later cleared. Herbert Hainer, former CEO of adidas, is now president of FC Bayern Munich.

Where Is Adidas Made and How Does It Practice Sustainability?

Although adidas is German in origin, its products are manufactured globally in countries including China, Japan, Canada, and the United States. The company has outlined several environmental commitments:

Aiming to reduce water accessibility and quality issues by 35% in the current year, according to its official Environmental Approach.
Committed to keeping CO₂ emissions to an absolute minimum as part of its climate change response.
Advocating for clean energy and pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years.

Famous Faces of Adidas

Adidas has partnered with influential figures to boost its brand presence:

Beyoncé partnered with adidas in 2019 to relaunch her Ivy Park brand.
Pusha T is behind the “King Push” Ozweego sneakers, and Donald Glover collaborated with the company in spring of the previous year.
Kanye West had a widely publicized and sometimes controversial partnership. His Yeezy shoes have redefined creative possibilities for the brand and influenced sneaker design.

How to Identify Fake Adidas Products

Counterfeit adidas items are common. Key indicators of authenticity include:

Does the logo match the official adidas trademark design?
Do the shoes come with a pair of backup laces?
Has the stitching been examined for quality and consistency?

Adidas often prints model numbers on its products, especially shoes. Serial numbers on the tag are common, and left and right shoes may have different numbers. Products lacking these numbers are likely counterfeit, though not always guaranteed.

What Is the Adidas Slogan?

Adidas has used several slogans over the years:

“Impossible is nothing” — a twist on the idea that nothing is impossible, emphasizing that personal goals are achievable through hard work and commitment.
“adidas Is All In” — adopted as a global marketing tagline in the early 2010s.
“Creating The New” — launched in 2015.

Adidas remains a trailblazer in athletic apparel, setting standards that other brands follow. That’s why some sports enthusiasts truly spend all day dreaming about adidas.

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