Adi Dassler started Adidas on August 18, 1949 introducing the now-iconi 3-Stripes to the world. Nearly 80 years later, Adidas continues to make an impact within popular culture, expanding far being sports and fashion.
The shoes made a mark on hip hop thanks in part to Run-DMC, which became the first music group to land an endorsement deal with an athletic brand. Adidas’ shoes and clothing have also made appearances in beloved movies like “Teen Wolf,” “Rocky,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” and plenty of others. The company also stayed ahead of the game, building partnerships not just athletes like David Beckham and Leo Messi but also culture shifters like Missy Elliot, Kanye West and Pharrell.
The brand continues to reinvent itselfIn Adidas’ first decade, the company delivered the Samba, a soccer shoe that made a resurgence in the 2020s thanks to style influencers and models like Kendall Jenner and Emily Ratajkowski.
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David Letterman, 1980
Image Credit: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via David Letterman in Shubert Alley wore a pair of Adidas sneakers with a suit and tie ahead of Season 1 of “The David Letterman Show.”
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“Teen Wolf,” 1985
Image Credit: MGM Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) wore Adidas Tourney sneakers in the movie “Teen Wolf.”
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“Rocky IV,” 1985
Image Credit: MGM Sylvester Stallone wore a pair of Adidas boxing shoes during his iconic final fight against Ivan Drago in 1985’s “Rocky IV.” Rocky wore a red, white and blue pair, while Drago stuck to red and yellow.
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Run-D.M.C., 1986
Image Credit: Getty Images Perhaps one of Adidas’ most notable relationships, the brand’s partnership with Run-D.M.C.’s began in 1986 after the release of the group’s hit song “My Adidas.” The song was an ode to the Superstar sneakers, which had become a favorite for the rap stars. The song’s success and the group’s unique style of wearing the sneakers without laceless caught the attention of Adidas executives. Adidas signed Run-D.M.C. to a $1 million deal, making them the first music group to receive an endorsement from a major athletic brand.
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Eddie Murphy, 1987
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures Eddie Murphy’s “Beverly Hills Cop” character Axel Foley made the Adidas Country sneaker a part of his uniform.
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Beastie Boys, 1991
Image Credit: Getty Images Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch, Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond posed for a group portrait in 1991 in New York, New York wearing Adidas. The Beastie Boys group frequently wore the Adidas Campus sneaker, and referencing Adidas in their music. That lead to an official collaboration in 2019, marking the 30th anniversary of their album “Paul’s Boutique” with their own official Adidas shoe.
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OutKast, 2002
Image Credit: WireImage André 3000 and Big Boi of OutKast stepped out at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002. André wore a pair of fresh Adidas Superstar sneakers with a blue and yellow plaid suit.
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Nicky Hilton, 2004
Image Credit: Getty Images Nicky Hilton is seen at the H Hilfiger Collection Fashion Show on April 6, 2004 at Macy’s in Briston Street, in Costa Mesa, Calif.
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Missy Elliott, 2004
Image Credit: Getty Images Missy Elliott announced her partnership with Adidas and presented her Adidas clothing line “Respect Me” at the Adidas Store in April 13, 2004 in New York City.
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David Beckham, 2004
Image Credit: Getty Images David Beckham secured his first shoe deal with Adidas in 1996. In 2003, the British soccer star inked a $160 million lifetime endorsement deal with the brand, making him a long-term ambassador, and becoming one of the largest deals in sports history at the time.
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Chris Rock, 2005
Image Credit: Getty Images Chris Rock attended the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks on March 29, 2005 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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Big Boi, 2005
Image Credit: Getty Images Big Boi attended the Big Boi album release party at Guest House on Nov. 15, 2005 in New York City.
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Lil Wayne, 2008
Image Credit: Getty Images Lil Wayne performed in Arizona in 2008 wearing Adidas Attitude Hi Womens sneakers in yellow and white.
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Stella McCartney, 2008
Image Credit: Getty Images Designer Stella McCartney arrived at the Adidas By Stella McCartney spring 2008 show at London Fashion Week on Sept. 20, 2007 in London. The designer has had a longstanding partnership with Adidas, which started in 2004. The British fashion mogul launched a line with Adidas, focusing on sports performance wear for women.
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Denzel Washington, 2009
Image Credit: WireImage Denzel Washington attends a photocall for the film “The Taking of Pelham 123” at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on July 21, 2009 in Berlin.
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Snoop Dogg, 2010
Image Credit: Getty Images Snoop Dogg launched the Adidas Originals X Star Wars Collection at Foot Locker Times Square on Feb. 4, 2010 in New York City.
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Kate Middleton, 2012
Image Credit: Getty Images Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrived to watch the rowing finals on day 4 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Eton Dorney on Sep. 2, 2012 in Windsor, England.
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Rihanna, 2014
Image Credit: WireImage Rihanna attended the 2014 Summer Classic Charity Basketball Game at Barclays Center on Aug. 21, 2014 in New York City wearing a Run-DMC Adidas crew neck sweatshirt. Over the years, the singer has been spotted wearing shoes and tracksuits from the brand.
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Leo Messi, 2015
Image Credit: Getty Images International soccer star Leo Messi signed a lifetime contract with Adidas in 2017.
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Katy Perry, 2015
Image Credit: GC Images Katy Perry arrives at Charles-de-Gaulle airport on June 6, 2015 in Paris wearing a full Adidas look.
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Helen Lasichanh, 2015
Image Credit: Getty Images for NARAS Pharrell Williams and his wife, designer Helen Lasichanh, attended The 57th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles. She wore a gray Adidas tracksuit to the event.
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Kanye West, 2016
Image Credit: Jonathan Leibson Kanye West and Adidas announced their Yeezy partnership at Milk Studios on June 28, 2016 in Los Angeles.
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Derrick Rose, 2015
Image Credit: Getty Images Derrick Rose wearing Adidas D Rose 6 sneakers in the “Home” colorway. Rose signed a 14-year contract with Adidas in 2012, that was reportedly worth at least $190 million.
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Pharrell Williams, 2016
Image Credit: Charley Gallay Pharrell Williams entered a long-term partnership with Adidas in 2014. His Adidas NMD “Human Race” collection was released on July 23, 2016
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Rita Ora, 2016
Image Credit: Getty Images Rita Ora launched her Adidas Originals Rita Ora spring 2016 collection at the Originals store at Dubai Mall on February 10, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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Kylie Jenner, 2018
Image Credit: Getty Images for Adidas Kylie Jenner attended the release of her Adidas Falcon sneaker on Sept. 6, 2018 in Los Angeles.
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Kendall Jenner, 2018
Image Credit: Stephen Lovekin/WWD Daniëlle Cathari and Kendall Jenner in a look from Adidas Originals By Danielle Cathari RTW Fall 2018.
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Beyonce, 2019
Image Credit: Courtesy of Adidas Beyoncé launched Ivy Park, her own athleisure brand, in 2016. She partnered with Adidas to relaunch Ivy Park as a global brand in April 2019, retaining full ownership.
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Kim Kardashian, 2019
Image Credit: GC Images Kim Kardashian was spotted wearing Yeezy sneakers with her children North, Saint and Chicago in SoHo on Sept. 29, 2019 in New York City.
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Shakira, 2020
Image Credit: Getty Images Shakira and Jennifer Lopez performed during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show at Hard Rock Stadium on Feb. 02, 2020 in Miami. For the finale, Shakira wore customized gold Adidas Superstar sneakers.
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Stan Smith, 2021
Image Credit: Getty Images for Footwear News The Adidas Stan Smith sneakers were first introduced in 1963 as the company’s first tennis shoe, which were originally named after French tennis player Robert Haillet. Former tennis player, Stan Smith, started wearing Adidas sneakers in the 1970s. In 1978, the shoe was officially re-named the “Stan Smith.” In 2019, sales of the sneaker surpassed the 100 million mark. Smith has a lifetime deal with the brand.
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Emily Ratajkowski, 2022
Image Credit: Getty Images For Balenciaga Emily Ratajkowski attends the Balenciaga womenswear spring 2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 2, 2022 in Villepinte, France wearing a black and white tracksuit from the Balenciaga x Adidas collab.
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Candace Parker, 2022
Image Credit: Getty Images for adidas In 2010, Candace Parker became the first woman to receive a signature Adidas shoe, the ACE Commander, starting a longterm partnership between the basketball star and the brand. Soon after she announced her retirement from the WNBA, Parker was announced as the president of Adidas women’s basketball.
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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F World Premiere in Beverly Hills, CA
Image Credit: Getty Images for Netflix “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” director Mark Molloy attended the film’s world premiere at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on June 20, 2024 in Beverly Hills wearing a pair of custom Adidas Superstar sneakers celebrating the movie.
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“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” World Premiere, 2024
Image Credit: Michael Buckner A close up of the shoe.
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Bella Hadid, 2024
Image Credit: GC Images Bella Hadid is seen in Midtown on July 11, 2024 in New York City. She was the star of the Adidas SL72 sneaker campaign.
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Olivia Rodriguez, 2024
Image Credit: Getty Images Olivia Rodrigo is seen in the West Village on April 8, 2024 in New York City.
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Bad Bunny, 2024
Image Credit: Getty Images Bad Bunny wore Adidas shoes in New York City on Sept. 3. The Puerto Rican star and Adidas have a collaboration that launched in March 2021, with the release of their first collaborative sneaker, the “The First Cafe” Forum Buckle Low. Bad Bunny previewed a custom Forum design in his music video “Yo Visto Asi” a year prior. This marked the start of a long-term creative partnership between Bad Bunny and Adidas, with them releasing various sneaker designs since.
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Anthony Edwards, 2025
Image Credit: Getty Images Anthony Edwards, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, signed an eight-figure, multi-year contract extension with Adidas, making him the face of Adidas’ basketball division. His first signature shoe, the AE 1, launched during the 2023-24 season.
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Willy Chavarria, 2025
Image Credit: Adidas Adidas Originals and Willy Chavarria celebrated their spring 2025 collection at the Adidas Melrose store in Los Angeles with an event honoring Chicano culture and the legacy of community, style and self-expression in Los Angeles.