Brand: adidas
Country of Origin: Germany 🇩🇪
Founded: 1949
Founder: Adolf “Adi” Dassler
Industry: Sportswear, Footwear & Sporting Goods
Company: adidas AG
Headquarters: Herzogenaurach, Germany
Chief Executive Officer: Bjørn Gulden
Official Website: adidas
Featured By: ASIA Best Brands — Global Brands
About adidas
adidas is one of the world’s leading sporting goods companies, creating footwear, apparel and accessories for sport and lifestyle.
Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, the company generated €24.8 billion in net sales in 2025 and employed 64,938 people worldwide at year-end.
From a Small German Workshop to the 3-Stripes
70 years of adidas on August 18, 2019. Image Source: adidas Group.
adidas was officially founded on August 18, 1949, when Adi Dassler registered the “Adolf Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik” in Herzogenaurach with 47 employees.
That same year, he registered a sports shoe featuring the 3-Stripes, which would become one of the most recognisable identities in global sport.
The company’s roots stretch back further: Adi and his brother Rudolf had founded the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory in 1924 before separating their businesses after World War II.
Innovation Built Around Athletes
Adi Dassler built the company around a straightforward idea: create products that help athletes perform better.
One early breakthrough came at the 1954 FIFA World Cup, when the West German national team wore adidas football boots with interchangeable screw-in studs on its way to victory.
That athlete-focused approach continues across football, running, training, basketball and other sports.
In 2026, adidas reported particularly strong growth in Football and Running, helping Performance revenue increase 39% on a currency-neutral basis in the second quarter.
From Performance to Global Culture
adidas has also developed a powerful lifestyle business.
adidas Originals draws on the company’s sporting archive and uses the Trefoil identity across classic and contemporary products, while adidas Sportswear brings sport-inspired design into everyday clothing.
Products such as the Samba, Superstar, Stan Smith and Gazelle have moved beyond their original sporting purposes to become internationally recognised lifestyle silhouettes.
This combination of performance and culture allows adidas to remain visible both on the field and in fashion.
Football on the Global Stage
Trionda, official ball of the 2026 World Cup with adidas Connected Ball technology. Image Source: MicroNanoSpain.
Football remains deeply connected to the adidas identity.
For the FIFA World Cup 26, adidas developed its largest World Cup product offering to date, including federation kits, footwear and the official match ball, Trionda.
The brand also entered Formula 1 through its partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and expanded further through a partnership with the Audi F1 Team beginning in 2026.
These partnerships extend adidas into some of the world’s most visible sporting platforms.
Materials and Circularity
adidas is also working to reduce its reliance on virgin materials.
In 2025, 60% of the materials used across adidas products and packaging were recycled or sustainably sourced renewable materials, up from 56% in 2024.
The company also reported that 99% of the polyester it sourced was third-party-certified recycled polyester.
Its longer-term circularity work includes increasing textile-to-textile recycling and improving material efficiency across products and packaging.
Strong Momentum Across Asia
Asia represents an important part of adidas’ global business.
In Greater China, adidas generated €3.62 billion in net sales in 2025, with adidas-brand sales increasing 13% on a currency-neutral basis. Growth was supported by both Lifestyle and Performance categories.
In Japan and South Korea, adidas-brand sales increased 14% on a currency-neutral basis, while reported net sales reached approximately €1.41 billion.
The company maintains major regional operations in Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong, connecting adidas with some of Asia’s largest sportswear and fashion markets.
Global Scale and Record Growth
adidas recorded strong growth in 2025:
- €24.81 billion in net sales
- €2.06 billion in operating profit
- double-digit adidas-brand growth across every major market
Momentum continued in 2026.
For the second quarter, adidas reported record quarterly net sales of €6.74 billion, up 14% on a currency-neutral basis.
For the first half of 2026, net sales reached a record €13.3 billion, while operating profit increased 11% to €1.28 billion.
Why adidas Is Featured on ASIA Best Brands
adidas demonstrates how a sports company can combine performance innovation with global cultural influence.
From Adi Dassler’s early sports shoes and the 3-Stripes to modern football, running, lifestyle fashion and global sporting partnerships, adidas has continuously evolved while remaining rooted in sport.
Its strong growth across Greater China, Japan, South Korea and wider Asian markets further reinforces the region’s importance to the brand.
By combining sport, innovation, design and cultural relevance, adidas remains one of the world’s most influential sporting brands featured on ASIA Best Brands.
Official Website:
adidas Official Website
Category: Sportswear | Footwear | Sporting Goods
Tags: adidas, Sportswear, Athletic Footwear, adidas Originals, Running, Football, 3-Stripes, German Brands, Asia, ASIA Best Brands
Sources
1. adidas — Company Overview
Official information covering leadership, headquarters, employees and global scale.
About adidas
2. adidas — Company History
Official history covering Adi Dassler, the 1949 founding and development of the 3-Stripes.
adidas History
3. adidas — Annual Report 2025
Official financial and operational information covering sales, profit, products and global markets.
adidas Annual Report 2025
4. adidas — Q2 and H1 2026 Results
Latest official results covering record sales, Performance growth and 2026 outlook.
adidas Q2 2026 Results
5. adidas — Greater China
Official 2025 figures covering adidas sales and category performance in Greater China.
adidas Greater China 2025
6. adidas — Japan and South Korea
Official regional figures covering sales growth and performance categories.
adidas Japan and South Korea 2025
7. adidas — Product and Marketing
Official information covering Performance, Originals, Sportswear and the adidas product portfolio.
adidas Product and Marketing
8. adidas — Sustainability and Circularity
Official information covering recycled materials, polyester and circularity targets.
adidas Resource Use and Circular Economy