Bavarian Sportswear Giants: Adidas And Puma's Roots

Puma and Adidas are two of the world's largest sportswear companies, both founded in the Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach by brothers Rudolf and Adolf Adi Dassler. The companies were originally one entity, the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory, but the brothers' relationship deteriorated, and in 1948 they split the business in two, with Rudolf founding Puma and Adolf founding Adidas. Both companies are still headquartered in Herzogenaurach, and they have since become rivals in the sportswear industry.

Adidas and Puma were founded by brothers Rudolf and Adolf Dassler

Adidas and Puma are two of the world's largest sportswear manufacturers, and both companies were founded by brothers Rudolf and Adolf "Adi" Dassler. The brothers' story begins in the small Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach, where their parents, Christoph and Pauline, worked in a shoe factory and ran a small laundry, respectively. After serving in World War I, Rudolf joined his father at the shoe factory, while Adi started making shoes in his mother's laundry room.

In July 1924, the brothers came together to form the "Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory" (Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik). The company was the only business manufacturing sports shoes at the time and faced challenges with unreliable electricity, sometimes requiring the use of pedal power from a stationary bicycle to run their equipment. Despite these difficulties, the brothers achieved success at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games, where a runner wearing their shoes won gold. This marked the beginning of the brothers' association with the world of sports.

In 1936, at the Berlin Olympics, the Dassler brothers persuaded US sprinter Jesse Owens to use their handmade spikes. Owens won four gold medals, and the success of this sponsorship put the brothers' company on the map. By the time World War II began, the company was selling 200,000 pairs of shoes annually. However, the war disrupted their business, and the brothers were forced to cease shoe production and manufacture weapons.

During the war, tensions between the brothers escalated, and their relationship deteriorated. The exact reasons for the rift are unknown but may have included jealousy, personality conflicts, and political disagreements. In 1948, the brothers officially parted ways, dividing the company's assets and forming two separate entities. Adolf created Adidas, derived from his nickname "Adi" and the first three letters of his last name, "Das." Rudolf established Puma, first named "Ruda" and later rebranded as Puma.

The rivalry between the two brothers and their companies extended beyond business, dividing the town of Herzogenaurach. The town earned the nickname ""the town of bent necks" as people would look down to check which shoes strangers wore. The brothers never reconciled, and even in death, they remained separated, buried at opposite ends of the town's cemetery.

The competition between Adidas and Puma fueled innovation and progress in the sportswear industry, with both companies striving for footwear supremacy. The rivalry also extended to athlete sponsorships, with each company vying to have legendary sportsmen wear their brands. Today, Adidas and Puma remain giants in the sportswear industry, with a rich history rooted in the sibling partnership of Rudolf and Adolf Dassler.

Both companies are headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany

Puma and Adidas are two of the world's largest sportswear manufacturers. Both companies are headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. Herzogenaurach is a small town in northern Bavaria, known for its rolling fields and proximity to the Aurach River. It is approximately two hours by car from Munich and has a population of around 23,000 people.

The two companies were founded by brothers Rudolf and Adolf Dassler, who grew up in Herzogenaurach. In 1924, the brothers started a shoe factory called "Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik" (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory) in their mother's laundry room. Over time, the business grew, and the brothers began producing football boots and track shoes with nailed studs and spikes, which were a new innovation at the time. However, tensions rose between the brothers, and in 1948, they decided to part ways and create two separate companies.

Rudolf moved his business to the other side of the Aurach River and established "Ruda," which was later renamed Puma. Adolf remained on the opposite side of the river and formed Adidas, derived from his nickname "Adi" and the first three letters of his last name, "Das." The rivalry between the two brothers and their companies divided the town, with each side of the river declaring support for their respective brand. The feud was so intense that even the town's bakeries, bars, and sports clubs were split between Adidas and Puma supporters.

Despite the rivalry, both Puma and Adidas thrived and became internationally recognised brands. They pioneered lightweight footwear and created distinctive shoes for various sporting events. They expanded their product lines to include sporting clothes, windbreakers, warm-up suits, and athletic hardware. Today, Puma and Adidas continue to be leading brands in the highly competitive sportswear industry, with Adidas being the second-largest sportswear manufacturer in the world, after Nike, and Puma ranking third.

While the intense rivalry between the two companies has faded over time, the impact of their headquarters in Herzogenaurach remains significant. The small Bavarian town became synonymous with sportswear and athletic footwear, attracting visitors curious about the birthplace of these iconic brands. The companies' success put Herzogenaurach on the map and contributed to the town's economy and cultural identity.

The two companies were once a single entity, the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory

Puma and Adidas were once a single entity, the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory, founded by Rudolf and Adolf "Adi" Dassler. The company was established in 1919 or 1924 in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany, and was the only business manufacturing sports shoes at the time. The brothers' father, Christoph, worked in a shoe factory, and their mother, Pauline, ran a small laundry where the pair started their venture.

Rudolf, the older brother, was born in 1898 in Herzogenaurach, then part of the German Empire. He trained as a salesman after serving in World War I and joined his brother's business in 1923 or 1924. He focused on sales, marketing, and promotions.

Adi, the younger brother, was born in 1900. After returning from serving in World War I, he started producing sports shoes in his mother's kitchen. He joined forces with Rudolf in 1924, and they named their company "Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik" (Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory). Adi was the innovator, handling the technical aspects of shoemaking.

The brothers' company achieved success at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games, where German middle-distance runner Lina Radke won gold wearing their shoes. This was followed by another success at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where their shoes were worn by legendary African-American runner Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals.

During World War II, Rudolf was drafted into the German army, while Adi remained to run the company. The factory was converted to produce weapons, and operations were paused. After the war, Rudolf returned, and operations resumed. However, tensions between the brothers grew, and they eventually split the company in 1948, forming Adidas and Puma as separate entities.

The rivalry between the two companies was intense and lasted until the brothers' deaths. The town of Herzogenaurach was divided, with each company having its own supporters, and the rift even extended to the football clubs and employees of the two firms. The feud between the Dassler brothers is often credited for transforming the sports apparel industry into a highly lucrative business.

The brothers' feud divided their hometown, earning it the nickname the town of bent necks

The story of the two giants of the sportswear world, Adidas and Puma, is one of sibling rivalry, a feud so intense it divided their hometown of Herzogenaurach in Bavaria. The brothers, Rudolf and Adolf "Adi" Dassler, founded their shoe company, Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik, in the 1920s, but by the late 1940s, rising tensions and differing views on how to run the business led to a split. The brothers' feud was not just limited to the boardroom, it extended to the football pitch and the Olympic stadium, with each determined to prove their shoes were the best.

The river Aurach, which runs through Herzogenaurach, became a physical symbol of the divide, with Puma's factory to the south and Adidas' to the north. The town was nicknamed "the town of bent necks" as people would look down to see which shoes strangers wore, such was the rivalry between the two companies. The two biggest football clubs in the town were sponsored by the rival companies, and residents' loyalties were firmly divided.

The rift between the brothers was so deep that it affected the entire town. Most of the citizens of Herzogenaurach worked for either Adidas or Puma, and socialising between employees of the two companies was frowned upon. Marrying across companies was strictly forbidden. Residents would only shop on the same side of the river as the factory that employed them, and the town even had separate bakeries, bars, and barber shops for the two sides.

The feud was not just between the brothers but also their wives, who lived in the same villa and did not get along. Rudolf's suspicion that his brother was behind his conscription and imprisonment by the Allies further fuelled the fire. The brothers' differences also extended to their approach to business, with Rudolf taking a sales-oriented approach, while Adi focused on product development. This led to a split in the workforce, with designers staying with Adi and salespeople joining Rudolf.

The rivalry continued even after the brothers' deaths, with both buried at opposite ends of the local cemetery, in accordance with their wishes to be as far apart as possible, even in death. It was only in 2009 that the feud finally ended, when employees of both companies played together in a friendly soccer match.

Adidas is the second-largest sportswear manufacturer in the world, while Puma is third

Adidas and Puma are two of the biggest sportswear companies in the world. Both companies were founded by brothers Rudolf and Adolf "Adi" Dassler, who started the "Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory" in 1924. The brothers' business relationship eventually deteriorated, and they agreed to split in 1948, forming two separate entities: Adidas and Puma.

Adidas AG is a German athletic apparel and footwear company headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second-largest in the world, after Nike. The company has a diverse range of products, including clothing, footwear, and accessories, and sponsors many famous athletes and teams across various sports. Adidas's revenue for 2018 was listed at €21.915 billion.

Puma SE, on the other hand, is a German multinational corporation that designs and manufactures athletic and casual footwear, apparel, and accessories. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany, Puma is the third-largest sportswear manufacturer in the world. The company was founded in 1948 by Rudolf Dassler, who initially named the company "Ruda" before changing it to Puma. Puma has also sponsored numerous athletes and teams and is known for its innovative products, such as the Super Atom football boot with screw-in studs.

The rivalry between Adidas and Puma has been well-documented, with the two companies competing fiercely in the market and dividing the town of Herzogenaurach, where they are both based. The competition between the two has been credited for transforming the sports apparel industry into a highly lucrative business.

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