adidas Gazelle

Gazelle

In the early 1960s, adidas produced several successful sports shoes for Olympic athletes. They had excellent performance features, and as the brand continued to innovate, some of these were carried over onto a new 1966 silhouette that would become one of its most iconic: the adidas Gazelle.

Unlike other athletic footwear of the time, the Gazelle was made from lightweight, durable suede, which could be dyed with vibrant colours, and the first two models were distinguished by their bright uppers. One was a vivid red colourway designed for indoor sports like handball, while the other was a bold blue version whose outsole was optimised for outdoor surfaces.

After its initial release, adidas updated the original build, notably introducing a performance-enhancing hexagonal tread to the outsole in 1971. One year later, its founder’s son, Horst Dassler, managed to secure an influential endorsement from gold-medal-winning swimmer Mark Spitz, who showed off a pair at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Along with its sporting credentials, the adidas Gazelle became regarded as a lifestyle sneaker as well, being worn by celebrities like Mick Jagger and appearing in popular fashion magazines. Moving into the 80s, passionate supporters of United Kingdom football teams travelled around Europe for international competitions, discovering adidas shoes like the Gazelle and taking them back home.

A new version of the Gazelle was produced in 1991, and the model was picked up by American skaters, who added to its overseas success. In the United Kingdom, it was worn in a famous photoshoot involving supermodel Kate Moss, before stars of the emerging Britpop scene started to appear in it on stage.

The Gazelle maintained its popularity into the 2000s, which began with the launch of the adidas Originals range. Another new model called the Gazelle Vintage was released, and more designs followed in the 2010s, including the Gazelle 2, which was worn by Daniel Craig’s James Bond, and several editions that honoured its skateboarding fans.

In 2016, the popular 1991 Gazelle was reconstructed, beginning a gradual comeback for the silhouette. Collaborations with streetwear brands, sneaker boutiques and legendary designers continued its rise, and in 2022, a partnership with Gucci brought it unprecedented success. The collaboration’s luxurious designs drew attention from global celebrities including Harry Styles, as well as fashion influencers like Gigi Hadid. Suddenly, the adidas Gazelle was one of the most popular shoes on the planet, attracting further collaborations and encouraging the creation of yet more models, such as the Bold and the Indoor.

In its long history, the adidas Gazelle has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt, with regular updates allowing it to maintain and even increase its popularity. More than this, though, it has influenced fashion, whether it be the trends of 80s football, 90s music or modern-day Hollywood actors. In short, it is a timeless icon of sneaker culture.