Adidas is a prominent brand in the sports apparel industry. Many people do not know that Adidas’ massive brand started as a small family business. The company owes its success to a unique branding strategy, but that is not what this blog is about. Here, you will take a look at the history of the Adidas logo. Without further ado, let’s dig in.
Adidas Logo Origins
Adidas’ original logo is nowhere near the logo that people recognize today. The company launched its first logo in 1949, and it consisted of a shoe hanging between the two “d” alphabets. The logo was quite similar to the one used by Karhu Sports, but this dispute was resolved when the founder of Adidas, Adolf Dassler, paid 1600 euros for the trademark.
In the 70s, the Adidas logo had three parallel stripes. Due to the 1971 rebranding, the emblem was revisited. It was not until 1991 that the logo was revisited again, but this time the three parallel stripes were tilted to look like a mountain. The modern Adidas logo’s origins can be traced back to the 2000s, when the logo first started with three curvy lines crossing a circle.
Meaning of the Adidas Logo
Initially, the stripes were added to Adidas shoes to increase their durability. The stripes on the emblem then were meant to represent the brand’s variety, while the trefoil leaves stood for North America, Asia, and Europe.
The Adidas logo resembling a mountain meant to convey the idea of individuals overcoming obstacles and pursuing their goals. As for the logo with a round emblem, it represents the world and adapting to changes quickly.
What is really interesting about all Adidas logos is that they all start with the lowercase letter “a,” representing the brand’s casual sportswear products, meant to be accessible to everyone.
Why does Adidas have Four Different Logos?
Adidas is one of the very few brands that does not abandon its logos. The brand uses four different logos for its various products.
- Three Parallel Stripes Logo
This classic symbol is used across all Adidas product lines.
- Trefoil Leaves Logo
The trefoil leaves logo is solely used for the brand’s Originals line of products.
- Mountain Logo
The mountain logo perfectly represents its performance line of products that are ideally suited to professional athletes.
- Circle Logo
The circle logo is used for the Style line of products created in collaboration with renowned designers.
Despite the numerous changes, Adidas sticks to its humble origins. Due to the brand’s consistency, people are able to recognize the brand, regardless of any variations. The Adidas logo’s success depends on a simple design, strong message, versatility, and awareness.
Logo designers or businesses looking for inspiration to create a unique will find plenty of great ideas and strategies from the Adidas brand. Now that you know Adidas’ secret to a successful logo design, use this information to create a logo that will do wonders for your brand.
