The company was started by Adolf Dassler in his mother's house. He was joined by his elder brother Rudolf in 1924 under the name Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik ("Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory"). Dassler assisted in the development of spiked running shoes (spikes) for multiple athletic events.

They're podiatrist-approved Since the Sambas were originally designed as an indoor soccer shoe, they may not provide as much cushioning or support as shoes specifically designed for walking—but podiatrist Dina Gohil, DPM, says they're still a suitable walking shoe thanks to their durable construction.

The name adidas came from the founder, Adolf “Adi” Dassler's name. He used his nickname, Adi, and the first three letters of his last name, Das, to create adidas.

The Y stands for Yohji Yamamoto. The 3 represents adidas' three stripes. The - signifies the bond between the two.