Adidas, the global sportswear giant, has a logo that is instantly recognisable worldwide—the three stripes. But many are only now discovering the hidden meaning behind this iconic design.
Founded by Adolf 'Adi' Dassler after the First World War, the company originally operated as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik alongside his brother Rudolf. After a split in 1948, Rudolf founded Puma, while Adolf renamed the company Adidas, a combination of his nickname and surname.
The three stripes first appeared on a track and field shoe in 1949. According to Adidas, the choice of three stripes was not symbolic but practical: Dassler found that three stripes showed up most prominently in photography, helping the new brand make an impact.
However, the triangular arrangement of the stripes, resembling a mountain, carries deeper meaning. Branding experts suggest it represents the obstacles athletes must overcome to achieve their goals. This revelation surprised many on social media, with one Reddit user commenting, 'It's a mountain? All this time I just thought it was three stripes.'
Today, Adidas uses three distinct logos: the three stripes for performance wear, the trefoil for Originals and lifestyle collections, and the Badge of Sport with three diagonal bars for sportswear.
