Adidas is a German multinational corporation specializing in athletic apparel, footwear, and sporting goods, headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe, and the second largest in the world, after Nike. The company is well known for its ‘three-stripe’ trademark and has a diverse portfolio that includes performance-focused gear, lifestyle products, and collaborations with fashion designers. Adidas has faced several controversies over the years, spanning issues related to ethics, partnerships, and its historical legacy: https://www.grunge.com/1074453/big-controversies-that-rocked-adidas/
The history of the sportswear giant Adidas involves the company’s founding by two brothers who were members of the Nazi party.
The company has been criticized for operating sweatshops, particularly in Indonesia. In 2020, Adidas was linked to forced Uighur labor in China. While the company denied direct ties with suppliers involved, it could not rule out indirect connections further down the supply chain.
https://www.oxfam.org.au/what-we-do/economic-inequality/workers-rights/adidas/
https://sustainly.com/adidas-sustainable-ethical/
Its collaboration with Kanye West on the Yeezy sneaker line from 2014 until October 2022, ended after West made antisemitic and offensive public comments. The fallout had significant consequences.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/27/business/kanye-west-adidas-yeezy.html
In 2024 Adidas faced backlash for featuring Bella Hadid in an ad campaign tied to the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes were killed by a Palestinian group called Black September. Critics argued that Hadid’s support for Palestinian issues made her an insensitive choice for the ad given the historical context. Adidas apologized and pulled the campaign.
https://www.today.com/news/adidas-bella-hadid-ad-controversy-explained-rcna163051
Israel Connections
Adidas has a significant presence in Israel, with an official website and social media accounts dedicated to the Israeli market. The company operates several official stores in major cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa.
https://www.instagram.com/adidasisrael/
In 2019 Adidas sold its “Adidas Israel” business to the Israeli textile firm Delta Galil for €90 million. As part of the deal Delta Galil took over Adidas’ operations in Israel, including retail stores and distribution, and Adidas licensed its brand to Delta Galil for the Israeli market, allowing them to design, produce, and sell Adidas-branded products locally. Among other issues, this partnership has led to calls for the boycotting Adidas products.
https://sgbonline.com/adidas-partners-with-delta-galil/
Adidas also had a sponsorship relationship with the Israel Football Association (IFA), providing sportswear and equipment. This ended in 2018 after the contract was not renewed mostly in response to criticism due to the IFA’s inclusion of six teams based in illegal settlements in the West Bank.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180806-bds-adidas-no-longer-sponsor-of-israel-football-teams/
https://imemc.org/article/adidas-no-longer-sponsoring-israel-football-association/
The company also sponsors events like the Tel Aviv Marathon and collaborates with Israeli athletes.
All of this is reason enough for conscientious consumers to avoid purchasing, selling, or working for Adidas. https://www.ulastempat.com/international/adidass-support-for-israel-examining-the-details/