The Basics of ASICS

When someone hears the brand name ASICS, and image of quality, performance, style, and reliable comes to mind, and with good reason. Since 1949, ASICS shoes have been one of the world’s most worn shoes for both the athlete and the casual wearer alike. Although they are ubiquitous with many professional and Olympic sports and individual athletes, their history is not so well known. Did you know the brand name is an acronym for the Latin phrase anima sana in corpore sano, which means, “Healthy Soul in a Healthy Body”? Here are some more facts about ASICS you might not know.

Originally named Panmure Co., Ltd., ASICS shoes were born simply as basketball shoes in the town of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Once Kihachiro Onitsuka, the founder, gained success, he widened his scope to include a variety of sports. These shoes, especially the Mexico 66 design, soon became wildly popular with athletes during the 50s and all the way through to the 70s. After Onitsuka merged with GTO and JELENK in 1977, the company officially changed its name to ASICS.

An interesting fact about ASICS is Nike, originally known as BRS, was initially founded to be the American seller of Onitsuka Tiger (a type of ASICS shoe) shoes. Phil Knight, founder of BRS, traveled to Japan in 1963. Impressed with the shoes’ high quality and low price, Knight brokered a deal to distribute the shoes in America.  Eventually, Knight had so much success selling Onitsuka Tiger shoes that he and partner Bill Bowerman were able to create their own brand, Nike.

If you’re interested in learning more about ASICS or would like to buy a pair for yourself, check out SneakerKing.com’s full line of ASICS shoes today!

Where Did Adidas Sneakers Come From?

Adidas is one of the most popular brands of sneakers in the world. With sponsorships in nearly every popular sport and a constant presence in popular movies and TV shows, Adidas sneakers are a major force in the sports and fashion world. While many people believe the brand name is an acronym for “All Day I Dream About Soccer,” this is actually not true. The name comes from the company’s founder’s name, Adolph “Adi” Dassler. Here are some more facts about the history of Adidas sneakers.

Adi Dassler began producing his own brand of sports shoes in his mother’s wash kitchen in Bavaria shortly after World War I. When he persuaded famed U.S. Olympic sprinter Jesse Owens to wear Adidas in the 1936 Summer Olympics, and after Owens took home four gold medals, the prosperous fate of Adidas was sealed.

Times weren’t always rosy for Adidas. When Dassler’s brother, Rudolph, founded Puma sneakers in 1948, their hometown of Herzogenaurach was divided between Adidas and Puma supporters. The rivalry soon grew so fierce that the brothers never put their differences aside. Even though they are buried in the same cemetery, the families made sure to keep their graves as far apart as possible from each other.

Adidas sneakers continue to be the shoe of choice for many sports stars throughout the world. Players from the games of soccer, track and field, tennis, and more all enjoy wearing Adidas sneakers on and off the field. Take a look at our full selection of Adidas sneakers today at SneakerKing.com!