adidas employee website | adidas Gazelle

The adidas Gazelle is one of the most iconic models ever produced by the German sportswear giant. When it was introduced in 1966, the Gazelle was the first adidas trainer to utilize a suede upper as opposed to leather, making it more lightweight while still providing a form-fitting structure suitable for sport.

While the model has been re-tooled several times since its initial release, the overall silhouette and traditional material composition has endured. Much like other adidas Originals like the Samba and Handball among myriad others, the Gazelle sits at a low-top height and features stripes branding along the lateral and medial quarters.

As adidas continued to grow its catalog in the 70s and 80s, the Gazelle was often re-visited as a starting point for new models. Simultaneously, adidas began releasing new versions of the Gazelle itself. 1979 saw the introduction of the Gazelle Indoor, crafted with a focus on indoor sports as it’s name makes clear. Defining features of indoor version include a T-toe overlay, gum rubber cupsoles, and a more forward-leaning tilt to the stripes.

Culturally, the Gazelle’s impact has been profound, especially in Europe. In addition to forays into hip-hop and setsboarding culture among other niches, the Gazelle is one of several adidas “terrace classics” beloved by casual soccer players and fans for its suitability for indoor play.

See our latest coverage surrounding the adidas Gazelle below.