You’ve seen it on thrift store racks, worn-out Gazelles, and high-end streetwear collaborations that cost more than a month's rent. Most people just call it "the flower thing," but to anyone who cares about design history, it’s the Trefoil. Honestly, the old logo of adidas carries a heavier weight than the modern "mountain" bars you see on performance gear today. It isn't just a retired graphic. It is a symbol of a time when the brand was trying to figure out how to be more than just a shoe company for German track stars.
The Trefoil didn't even exist when Adi Dassler started the company.
For the first few decades, the branding was a bit of a mess. It was mostly just the "Three Stripes" appearing on the side of shoes. That was it. But by the late 60s, adidas was ballooning. They were making apparel. They were becoming a global household name. They needed a mark that worked on a tracksuit as well as it did on a leather football boot.
In 1971, out of over 100 ideas, they picked the Trefoil. It officially debuted at the 1972 Munich Olympics. It was meant to represent growth and the union of the three main landmasses where the brand was selling: North America, Europe, and Asia. It's funny because, back then, they probably didn't realize they were creating the most iconic "retro" symbol in history.
What the Old Logo of Adidas Actually Represents
If you look closely at the Trefoil, it’s not just random petals. The three leaves are intersected by the famous stripes. It was a genius move. It kept the "Three Stripes" DNA while giving the brand a silhouette that was instantly recognizable from across a stadium.
Designers often argue about why it worked. Some say it's the symmetry. Others think it’s because it looks organic, unlike the sharp, corporate lines we see in modern tech logos. When you wear an old logo of adidas item today, you’re basically signaling that you value the "Originals" era—the 70s and 80s—over the hyper-engineered performance world of the 2000s.
It’s about heritage.
The 1997 Pivot and the Confusion It Caused
By the 1990s, adidas was facing a bit of an identity crisis. Nike was eating their lunch with the "Swoosh" and the "Just Do It" campaign. Adidas felt they looked too... old. Too much like your dad’s tennis coach.
So, in 1997, they made a massive move. They introduced the "Equipment" logo, which is the three slanted bars forming a triangle. Peter Moore—the guy who actually designed the Air Jordan 1 and the Nike Dunk—was the mastermind behind this. He wanted it to look like a mountain. It represented the "challenge to be faced" and the "goals to be achieved."
But they didn't kill the Trefoil. They just moved it.
This is where the distinction gets tricky for casual fans. The mountain logo became the corporate face for performance and sports gear. The old logo of adidas, the Trefoil, was relegated to the "Originals" line in 2001. It was a brilliant marketing play. They realized that their history was a product in itself. They stopped trying to make the Trefoil look futuristic and embraced the fact that it looked vintage.
Why the Trefoil Won the Culture War
Go to a music festival. You'll see the Trefoil. Go to a skate park. You'll see it there, too.
The Trefoil's survival is largely thanks to Run-D.M.C. When they dropped "My Adidas" in 1986, they weren't wearing the modern performance gear. They were wearing the stuff with the old logo. They wore it with the tongues out and no laces. It was a middle finger to the establishment. It turned a German sports brand into a staple of New York hip-hop culture.
That wasn't planned by a boardroom. It just happened.
Because of that cultural explosion, the old logo of adidas became a shorthand for "cool." It moved from the track to the street. Even today, when adidas does a collaboration with someone like Pharrell Williams or Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God, there’s always a conversation about which logo to use. Often, they go back to the Trefoil because it has a soul that the slanted bars just don't have.
Design Nuances You Might Have Missed
There is a specific geometry to the 1972 version. It’s balanced. The font used for the "adidas" text below it is a customized version of ITC Avant Garde Gothic. It’s a geometric sans-serif that feels very much like the 70s—round, friendly, but authoritative.
Modern "Originals" gear sometimes tweaks the spacing, but the core shape remains untouched.
- The Leaves: They represent the three continental plates.
- The Stripes: They tie the history of the shoe-side branding into the new logo.
- The Lowercase: Adi Dassler always used lowercase. It felt more humble, more accessible.
The Battle of the Stripes: A Legal Nightmare
You can't talk about the old logo of adidas without mentioning the lawsuits. Adidas is incredibly protective of those stripes. They’ve sued everyone from high-fashion houses like Thom Browne to fast-fashion giants.
The stripes are their "source identifier."
In the eyes of the law, if you see three parallel lines, you should think of adidas. The Trefoil is the anchor for that entire legal strategy. Because the stripes are physically integrated into the old logo, it solidifies their claim that the stripes aren't just decoration—they are the brand.
Authenticity in the Age of Replicas
For collectors, the old logo of adidas is a bit of a minefield. Vintage hunters look for specific tags to prove a garment is from the 70s or 80s. Real vintage Trefoil tags usually have a "Made in West Germany" or "Made in France" mark. If you see a Trefoil on a tag that says "Made in China" with a modern QR code, it’s a modern "Originals" reproduction.
There's nothing wrong with the new stuff, but the fabric feel is totally different. The old 70s tracksuits used a heavier, shinier polyester-cotton blend that modern machines don't really replicate perfectly.
How to Style the Old Logo Without Looking Like a Gym Teacher
- Contrast is key. Don't wear a full 1970s tracksuit unless you're actually going to a costume party or you're a world-class DJ.
- Mix eras. A vintage Trefoil t-shirt looks great under a modern denim jacket or with tailored trousers.
- Footwear matters. If you're wearing an old-school Trefoil hoodie, pair it with Sambas or Stan Smiths. Keep the vibe consistent.
The "Originals" line has stayed relevant because it doesn't try too hard. It relies on your nostalgia. Whether you grew up watching the 1974 World Cup or you just like the way the logo looks on a sweatshirt you found in a London basement, the Trefoil works. It’s one of the few logos that survived a total corporate rebranding and came out stronger on the other side.
Most brands kill their old logos. Adidas turned theirs into a multi-billion dollar sub-brand.
Your Next Steps for Finding Real Vintage
If you're hunting for genuine items featuring the old logo of adidas, start by checking the "Trefoil" size and the registered trademark symbol (®). On 1970s gear, the ® is often quite large compared to modern prints.
Check the zippers, too. Authentic vintage adidas often used OPTI or YKK zippers with specific metal pulls that felt substantial. Look for the "Ventex" tags if you're browsing European markets; these are highly prized by collectors and indicate 60s or 70s production. Finally, inspect the embroidery of the Trefoil itself. On real vintage pieces, the stitching is dense and slightly raised, whereas cheap modern knockoffs often have "loose" threads connecting the leaves.
Stop looking for "perfect" condition. The best old logo gear has a bit of fade—it shows the history that the logo was meant to celebrate in the first place.
Actionable Insight: To verify if a "vintage" find is actually from the pre-1997 era, look at the internal care labels. Genuine 70s and 80s pieces will have paper-like tags that are often faded or "crispy." If the tag is a soft, silky satin with multiple languages and a website URL, it’s a modern remake from the Originals line, not a true vintage piece.