From Dassler Brothers to Three Stripes: The History and Meaning Behind Adidas

 

Adidas. A name synonymous with athletic excellence, cutting-edge technology, and iconic sportswear. But how did this brand name come to be, and what meaning does it hold beyond the instantly recognizable three stripes logo? This article delves into the history of Adidas, exploring the origins of its name, its evolution over time, and its impact on the global sports apparel industry.

From Shoemaking Brothers to a Split Legacy: The Birth of Adidas

The story of Adidas begins not with a single founder, but with two brothers – Adolf ("Adi") Dassler and Rudolf Dassler. In their mother's wash kitchen in 1920s Germany, the Dassler brothers embarked on a shared dream:creating innovative footwear for athletes. Their early success, fueled by Adi's craftsmanship and Rudolf's business acumen, laid the foundation for what would become a sportswear giant.

However, the relationship between the brothers soured in the aftermath of World War II. Personal and ideological differences led to a permanent split in 1949. This pivotal moment gave birth to two distinct sporting goods companies – Adidas and Puma (founded by Rudolf).

A Name Rooted in Heritage: The Creation of Adidas

With the need for a new brand name, Adi Dassler turned to his own identity. He cleverly combined a nickname, "Adi," with the first three letters of his last name, "Das," to create "Adidas." This simple yet effective combination served a dual purpose. It paid homage to the Dassler family legacy while also establishing a distinct identity separate from his brother's venture.

Beyond the Name: The Evolution of the Adidas Brand

The now-famous three stripes logo, initially acquired by Adi Dassler from Finnish athletic brand Karhu Sports in 1952, became a cornerstone of the Adidas brand identity. The meaning behind the three stripes remains officially undisclosed, but various interpretations have emerged over the years. Some suggest it represents the three core elements of Adidas' focus: athletes, designers, and the global sporting community. Others have seen it as a symbol of diversity, inclusivity, and the brand's commitment to supporting athletes of all levels.

From Waffle Irons to Winged Goddesses: The History and Impact of Nike pen_spark

 

Nike. The swoosh logo is instantly recognizable, a global symbol of athletic performance and aspirational cool. But how did a company named after a Greek goddess become synonymous with sneakers and sportswear? This article delves into the fascinating history of Nike, exploring its innovative spirit, iconic marketing strategies, and undeniable impact on the world of sports and fashion.

Humble Beginnings: From Track to Blue Ribbon Sports

The story of Nike starts in 1964, not in the glitzy world of brand endorsements and million-dollar marketing campaigns, but on a University of Oregon track. Phil Knight, a former track athlete, was impressed by the quality and affordability of Japanese running shoes made by Onitsuka Tiger (now Asics). He saw an opportunity and partnered with his coach, Bill Bowerman, to distribute these shoes in the United States. They named their venture Blue Ribbon Sports, a nod to the symbolic award given to winners in track meets.

Bowerman, a true innovator, wasn't satisfied with just selling existing shoes. He craved improvement. The story goes that he poured rubber into his wife's waffle iron, creating a new kind of sole with superior traction.This "waffle sole" design became a signature feature of early Nike shoes and a testament to Bowerman's relentless pursuit of better athletic performance.

Birth of a Swoosh and a Brand Identity

Björn Borg and the end of the traumatic marriage with an Italian singer: “He preferred cocaine to me,”

 

Björn Borg is a brilliant legend in the world of tennis. The Swede is, without a doubt, one of the athletes who marked a before and after on the circuit. Between 1974 and 1981 he won 66 titles, eleven of them Grand Slam titles (six Roland Garros and five Wimbledon). Charismatic, talented, winner... he built cinematic duels in romantic times of tennis, with figures like John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Guillermo Vilas, among others. It is also known that his life, after becoming a professional, had ups and downs due to his addictions. A dark and deep stage that, from time to time, returns to the scene due to comments from third parties.

The Italian singer and actress Loredana Berté, who was married to Borg between 1989 and 1993, when the Nordic had already retired, once again referred to the addictions suffered by the former world number one. “When we got married, he preferred cocaine to me,” said Berté, 73, during an interview with the Rai 2 radio station in which he reiterated concepts expressed in his memoirs published a few years ago and in which he recounts the ordeal that that marriage turned out to be.

Loredana Berté, currently

Berté, who was a pop icon during the '80s and met Borg during a holiday in Ibiza in 1988, said the former tennis star's addiction to drugs and prostitutes were decisive in the couple's breakup. “I couldn't accept it,” Berté explained, according to the ANSA agency , when commenting on the sexual demands of the Swede, from whom he decided to separate after a specific event that ended up being decisive.

Jeff Bezos buys a third mansion on an exclusive island in Miami Beach for 90 million

 

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and the second largest fortune in the world, bought a new property - his third - for 90 million dollars (83 million euros) on the exclusive island of Indian Creek, known as the 'Billionaires' Bunker' and located in Miami Beach, in Biscayne Bay in southern Florida (USA), national media reported this Tuesday.

The transaction was carried out off-market and, according to Bloomberg, the tycoon plans to reside in this six-bedroom mansion while demolishing the other two houses he previously bought on this island.

Property records show the luxury home last sold in 1998 for $2.5 million.

"That's the hottest place (Indian Creek) in the country right now. If there's one thing rich elites want, it's a little exclusivity," a source familiar with the area's real estate sector told the New York Post.

Bezos, 60, acquired two other properties in October and June 2023 for $79 and $68 million, respectively, located in the "Billionaires' Bunker."

The town of Indian Creek, with only 41 residential lots, has a country club, its own police department and is home to personalities and magnates such as Jeffrey Soffer, Carl Icahn, Tom Brady, Julio Iglesias, Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump .

Jeff Bezos also has other properties in Washington, Maui and Beverly Hills, which he bought, the latter, for $165 million in 2020, according to Bloomberg.

The Amazon founder, who since resigning as CEO in 2021 has been enjoying the good life with his fiancée, former journalist of Mexican origin Lauren Sánchez, was looking to acquire property in Indian Creek.

Bezos and Sánchez, born into a Mexican-American family in Albuquerque, New Mexico, first went public with their relationship in 2019. Since the two began dating, they have kept the details of their life together private, although They have been photographed at some events.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Jeff Bezos has a fortune of $203.7 billion.

Bezos has sold Amazon shares worth about $8.5 billion in recent months, after "not getting rid of company shares since 2021," Bloomberg reported.

The founder of the space company Blue Origin is also the owner of one of the most expensive superyachts in the world, the Koru, the luxurious three-masted schooner valued at $500 million that is considered the largest in the world.

Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj and 200 other artists ask that AI respect their rights

 Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Camila Cabello and around 200 other musical artists published an open letter this Tuesday in which they ask Artificial Intelligence (AI) developers and technology companies that they do not use this tool to "infringe and devalue the rights of human artists."

Artist Rights Alliance (ARA), a non-profit organization run by artists to defend their rights, was in charge of sharing the letter with the support of well-known names in the industry to warn about the use of musical works without permission by AI companies.

"We call on all digital music platforms and music-based services to commit to not developing or deploying AI music generation technology, content or tools that undermine or substitute the human artistry of composers and artists or deny us a fair compensation for our work," the artists demand in the letter.

In this sense, the writing highlights two trends in which songs are used illicitly: to train and produce AI "imitators" and to dilute royalty obligations using the sound of these algorithms.

Music creators also talk about threats such as voice cloning, since the arrival of AI allows a vocal sample to be used to transform songs into others that sound like a human artist without being one.

"The unethical use of generative AI to replace human artists will devalue the entire music ecosystem, for both artists and fans," ARA CEO Jen Jacobsen said in a statement.

Sam Smith, HYBE, Jon Bon Jovi, Norah Jones, Pearl Jam, REM, Chuck D and Kate Hudson are other signatories of the letter.

Already in October 2023, three major music publishers - Universal Music Publishing Group, Concord Music Group and ABKCO - sued the AI ​​company Anthropic, alleging that it infringed the copyright of the song lyrics, as detailed by The Hollywood Reporter. .

Also in the cultural sector, Hollywood actors began a strike in July 2023 - which lasted for more than 100 days - to, among other reasons, achieve regulation in the use of AI, considering it an "existential threat."