Look What You Made Me Do

When it comes to sports shoes, Adidas and Puma are two names that will always pop up in your mind. However, did you know that these two are rivals and their rivalry started with a family feud? These two brands were founded by brothers who couldn’t get along, and their fight turned into one of the biggest battles in the sportswear world. Whether you’re team Adidas or team Puma, this rivalry isn’t just about shoes—it’s about choosing sides in a family split that shaped the way we all dress today.

The two brothers, Adolf and Rudolf were born in Herzogenaurach to a middle-class family. They initially founded a shoe manufacturing company, Geda in 1919. Geda’s success became apparent when Jesse Owens wore Geda shoes during the 1936 Olympics and even won the gold medal. Throughout World War II, Geda's activities were suspended when Rudolf was recruited into the German army, and the company's shoe factory was transformed into a weapons plant. Rudolf returned after the war was over, and Geda's operations started up again.

After working together for more than 30 years, the brothers finally separated and Geda was unfortunately shattered. The reasons for the fight though still not clear, are majorly suspected to be a feud between the respective wives, who generally did not get along. The second reason is, growing doubts in Rudolf's mind that his brother Adi was the one forcing him into the army and landing him briefly in the Allies' custody.

In 1948, Rudolf Dassler founded Puma, originally named Ruda, and Adolf Dassler established Adidas in 1949. The split of Geda's resources saw Adidas retain the factory by the train station and two-thirds of the employees, while Puma kept the factory on Würzburger Street and the remaining workforce. Over the next three decades, both brands rose to prominence, signing major athletes like Muhammad Ali for Adidas and the Brazil national football team for Puma. Rudolf died in 1974, followed by Adolf in 1978, and they were buried at opposite ends of Herzogenaurach's cemetery.

The feud was so deep-rooted that the employees of the respective companies avoided speaking to each other and they patronized the separate bars and restaurants. Herzogenaurach was dubbed "the town of bent necks" because of the custom of people glancing at each other's shoes to determine if they were associated with Puma or Adidas.

In another major turn of events, Puma came out on top during the 1970 World Cup. Even though the Dassler brothers had agreed not to sponsor Pelé to avoid a bidding war, Puma broke the deal. They made a sponsorship with Pelé, who paused before a match to tie his Puma King shoes, grabbing the spotlight. Pelé then led Brazil to win the World Cup, which gave Puma a big boost in popularity and sales.

In the end, the rivalry between Adidas and Puma isn’t just about two brands—it’s a story of sibling rivalry that forever changed sportswear. So, whether you lace up with Adidas or rock those Puma kicks, remember—it’s more than just a style choice. You’re stepping into a family feud that left its mark on the sportswear world, one iconic shoe at a time.