People are just realizing there's a 'hidden message' in the Adidas logo
Three stripes - that's all it takes to make up the Adidas logo, but there's actually a much deeper meaning behind the recognizable image.
The famous sportswear brand has changed its look a few times since it was first founded in 1949, at which time it only produced sports shoes - none of the hoodies and leggings we're so familiar with now.
The current logo features three stripes slowly increasing in size, forming a kind of lopsided triangle, but it didn't always look that way.
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Adidas was founded by Adolf Dassler, who kept things simple with the original logo by designing it on a track and field spiked shoe, complete with the now-iconic three stripes.
Why three? It's not actually anything to do with the number itself; instead Dassler just tested varying numbers of stripes and found that three showed up most prominently in photography, making them easier to advertise.
Clearly, his research paid off.
However, it wasn't until 1972 that the brand started selling apparel alongside its shoes, at which time a team of leaders and designers came up with the Trefoil logo.
This logo features three leaf-shaped foils, with the three stripes running through the leaves.
The Trefoil still features today on all Originals products to pay tribute to the heritage of the brand, but in 1989 came a new logo - the one with the hidden meaning.
As I mentioned, this logo looks a bit like a pyramid that's been pushed to the side, and according to Adidas' website it came from designers sketching the famous three stripes the way they’re seen from the inside of an Adidas shoe.
The logo represents the 'best product for athletes', according to Adidas, but Tailor Brands has pointed out another thing it represents: challenge.
The logo is reminiscent of a mountain; an obstacle that must be overcome, as is often the case with athletes facing a new challenge.
Fashion fans have shared the discovery online, with one person writing on Twitter: "Rare Info: The Adidas logo represents a mountain, symbolizing the challenges we conquer."
Another wrote: "The name of Adidas is derived from the co-founder, Adolf Dassler. Three stripes of the logo symbolize a mountain, which in turn represents the obstacles, challenges and limits that athletes have to overcome."
Though the Adidas logo has changed its look over time, the one constant is the three stripes - something the company's website describes as representing a 'quality product that’s rooted in sport'.
Emily Brown