The brand adidas in lifestyle

Adi Dassler, a manufacturer for athletes

Adi Dassler turned adidas into a sports engineering brand: he observed athletes, tested his shoes with them, and filed several hundred patents during his life. The first highlight came during the 1954 World Cup, won by West Germany in the final, in the rain of Bern, wearing shoes with screw-in studs that could be adapted to the state of the pitch. The brand then outfitted the Olympic Games, major football clubs, and athletes in various sports, before its models became fashion items worn on the street from the 1980s onwards.

Three stripes, trefoil and Performance logo: reading the logos

The three stripes initially served to hold the shoe upper in place before becoming the brand's signature. The trefoil, with three leaves crossed by the stripes, appeared in 1972, the year adidas expanded its offering to clothing; the SL 72 running shoe was the first to feature it. Today, it represents the Originals line, which reissues archive models and retro-inspired clothing. The logo with three diagonal bars, shaped like a mountain, identifies the performance ranges, aimed at training and competition.

Archive sneakers at the heart of the wardrobe

The lifestyle adidas wardrobe is primarily based on its archive sneakers. The Samba, designed in 1950 for training on frozen ground, and the Gazelle, first model of the brand in suede in 1966, have a low profile that has become highly sought after. The Superstar from 1969, a basketball shoe with a rubber toe cap, was adopted by Run-DMC, who dedicated the song My Adidas to it in 1986. The Stan Smith, born in 1965 named after the Frenchman Robert Haillet, has since the early 1970s carried the name of the American champion, whose face adorns the tongue.

Tracksuits and sweatshirts: cuts and sizes

The tracksuit jacket with three stripes on the sleeves, zipped and with a high collar, is the most recognizable piece of clothing from adidas; it comes in shiny knitted fabric, fleece or nylon, often with matching trousers. The sweatshirts and t-shirts with the trefoil, made of cotton, feature the logo large on the chest or small at heart level. In terms of sizes, adidas clothing follows a range from XS to XXL, with regular, fitted or loose cuts depending on the line: retro-inspired models are often close-fitting, and one size up offers a more relaxed fit.

New arrivals and good deals

The new arrivals showcase the latest releases, the promos highlight discounted items, and items shipped in 24h are prepared and dispatched within 24 hours. The good deals, clearance and sales complete the offering.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the name adidas come from?

It comes from its founder, Adolf Dassler, whom everyone called Adi. The brand combines this nickname with the first three letters of his surname, resulting in adidas, written in lowercase.

Is adidas a German brand?

Yes, adidas was registered in 1949 in Herzogenaurach, a small town in Bavaria, where the brand still has its headquarters. It was built on sports fields, from football to athletics, before establishing itself in fashion.

How to care for an adidas tracksuit jacket?

Wash it at 30 degrees, inside out and with the zipper up, to protect the stripes and the embroidered or printed logo. Avoid the tumble dryer and hot iron, which damage the shiny knitted fabric and cause the stripes to curl.

Are adidas lifestyle clothes unisex?

Some pieces, like the trefoil sweatshirts or loose tracksuit jackets, can be worn by anyone. Others come in women's cuts, which are more fitted at the waist and shoulders: the size guide specifies the range for each model.

Which adidas sneaker to choose for a first purchase?

The Stan Smith, in white leather, is the easiest to wear and maintain. The Samba and Gazelle offer a slimmer and more colorful profile, but fit narrowly: those with wider feet often feel better in a Superstar or a Campus.