Adidas & Puma are amongst world giant sport wear companies, not until recently, i never knew they were siblings, and i am sure there are others like me that are in the dark.
The Dassler brothers Rudolf 'Rudi' (the eldest) and Adolf 'Adi' (younger) are the co-founder of DASSLER BROTHERS SPORT SHOE COMPANY as far back as the 1920s, in the Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach, Germany.
Adolf 'Adi, Dassler was the introvert, a crafty designer that designs and made the shoes, while the older brother Rudolf 'Rudi' Dassler was more of an outspoken salesman that was responsible for the sales of the the shoes.
In 1936 Berlin Olympics, American athlete Jesse Owens wore the Dassler brother's shoe, Owens won four (4) gold medals and thus the brother's shoe became popular.
Come with the fame is heated tension between the brothers, soon after, their relationship went south. Several reasons were rumored to be the cause of the conflict, the bottom line was that the conflict ended the brothers partnership, after world war two(2), the brothers split the company assets and employees thus ended Dassler Brother Sport Shoe Company.
In 1949 , Adolf 'Adi' Dassler coined his trademark name "ADIDAS" from is nickname 'Adi' and his last name 'Das'-sler
while his older brother Rudolf 'Rudi' Dassler named his brand initially "RUDA" from his first name 'Ru'-dolf and last name 'Da'-ssler, then changed it to "PUMA", which is more suited to the fast and agile nature of athletes.
The brothers even built their factories on opposite side of a certain river Aurach right there in Herzogenaurach.
Years after years of lawsuit and counter lawsuit against each other on all sort of designs and trademarks issues that must have cost fortunes went by.
This feud even precipitated down to the local communities, to the extent that local people picked sides, you are either for Adidas or against it, either for Puma or against it. Love affairs between employees across either company were forbidden,the rivalry was so bitter that the town of Herzogenaurach was known as "the town of bent necks", simply because local people had to first looked and checked out the company's shoes you wear before associating with you.
Rubbing into Puma's face was the fact that they had to do catch-up with Adidas, no surprise, because Adidas had all the technical guys to his side during separation.
Rudolf 'Rudi' Dassler died in October 1974 (age 76) and within four (4) years of his death, his younger brother Adolf 'Adi' Dassler died, in September of 1978 (aged 77).
Both were buried at opposite ends of the same graveyard in Herzogenaurach far away from each other as possible.
However, in 2009, employees of both Adidas and Puma came together to call a truce to end six (6) decade of acrimony between them by organizing and playing a benevolent soccer match. An honorable move by both companies employees i say.
Thank goodness there are so many other sport wear companies this day, we get to pick according to taste and not sentiment.
check links below for my sources;
http://amp.timeinc.net/fortune/2013/03/22/the-hatred-and-bitterness-behind-two-of-the-worlds-most-popular-brands
https://www.shelflife.co.za/blogdetail/FactsFriday-The-Dassler-Brothers-A-tale-of-three-stripes
https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/brands-of-battling-brothers-1.5138
Thanks for stopping by to read and encourage.
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