Adidas Footwear

In 2016, adidas is arguably the most relevant brand name in modern sneaker culture.

The company’s origins start with German brothers Adolf and Rudolf Dassler. Together, the siblings shared Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, a single company which would later be divided into Adolf’s adidas and Rudolf’s PUMA.

When American athlete Jesse Owens won four gold medals wearing Adolf’s track shoes at the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics, this event laid the foundation for what is now the second biggest sporting goods manufacturer in the world.