Asics, Nike, Altra, Saucony… each of these names and their associated logos has its own history, some more significant than others. Some are better known, others less so. Some names are based on stories or acronyms, others are named after manufacturers or… rivers. The same goes for logos, which often refer to characteristics with which the brand wants to be associated.
Where did it come from?
adidas
In this case, the brand name comes from Adolf “Adi” Dassler. The first three letters of his first name and the first three letters of his surname form the name adidas. The three stripes, on the other hand, evolved over time. In the 1930s, 1940s or 1950s, these stripes were used to reinforce the construction of shoes. Not only adidas did this. But it was adidas that turned these three stripes into their trademark and turned them into a timeless logo.
Altra
The name Altra comes from the letters LTR, which stand for Learn To Run. Unfortunately, the name LTR would be difficult to pronounce, to say the least. So, two letters were added, A, and that’s how ALTRA came to be. This word itself doesn’t mean much, but… Through the zero drop and a large amount of toe space, Altra teaches runners how to use their feet naturally. And, as a result, how to run naturally.
Asics
ASICS is an acronym. The name is derived from the Latin phrase “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano”, which means “A sound mind in a sound body”. This sentence was coined in 1977 when Onitsuka became Asics. The characteristic stripes on the upper, which form an “A”, are a reference to the tiger stripes and the Onitsuka Tiger brand.
Brooks
Brooks was named after its founder, in this case John Brooks Goldenberg, who founded the brand in 1914. However, little is known about the brand logo. The angular arrowhead, from which the logo later evolved, appeared on shoes in the 1970s. Over time, it became less angular and transformed into the sleek logotype we know today.
Hoka
The name Hoka means “to fly above the ground” in Maori. This refers to the main idea behind Hoka, which are shoes with a very high midsole that lift the runner above the ground. The silhouette of a flying bird with wings in the logo only confirms this.
inov-8
The brand and name have their roots in the history of its creator, Wayne Edy. His idea was to create specialized shoes for very demanding users in very difficult terrain. The first shoe constructions were made at Innovate Associates. In 2003, on its basis, inov-8 was born.
Mizuno
Just like adidas and Puma were founded by the Dassler brothers, Mizuno was founded by the brothers Mizuno – Rihachi and Rizo. The Mizuno logo has probably the most subtexts and hidden meanings. It was created several years ago and is called RunBird – symbolizing on the one hand the sport of running. On the other hand, it refers to a bird that has many symbolic meanings in Japanese culture. On yet another hand, it was inspired by the intersecting orbits (in this case three) of the planets.
New Balance
New Balance owes its name to… chickens, but not literally. At the beginning of the 20th century, a man named William J. Riley noticed that chickens maintain their balance thanks to three points of support. Riley adapted this solution by first producing shoe inserts and then the shoes themselves. This is how New Balans was born… or sorry, New Balance. And the logo? Well, stylized initial letters of a two-part name always look good.
Nike
Without Asics, there would be no Nike. Nike was founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, who were distributors of the Onitsuka (later Asics) brand in the United States. Over time, they started producing their own shoes under the Blue Ribbon brand, and one of the first collections was called… Nike. A few years later, Nike became the name of the entire brand. The Swoosh, the world famous skate that symbolizes the wing of Nike, the goddess of victory, was designed for $35. How much is that symbol worth today?! A hell of a lot!
On
It is one of the youngest brands on the running market, founded in 2010 and launching its first running shoes two years later. The name means “to turn on”. Initially, the brand name was also known in a slightly longer form, “On Running”. However, when it comes to the brand itself, the brand name is simply – On.
Puma
Puma’s history is closely linked to Puma, which was founded in 1948 by Rudolf Dassler, the brother of Adolf, who left adidas. Like his brother, he first named his company after the initial letters of his first and last name – Ruda. It wasn’t the best idea and the company quickly changed its name to the more aggressive and international Puma. It wasn’t until many years later, in 1979, that the most obvious thing under the sun appeared in the Puma logo: a leaping puma.
Reebok
If you are tired of brands taking their names from the names of their founders, what would you say if the brand took its name from… an antelope. More specifically, a particular species of South African antelope, the Gray Rhebok. Yes, that’s where the name Reebok comes from. No other brand has played around with its logo as much as Reebok. Even though it was founded in the United States, the logo used the British flag, the Union Jack, for a long time. Then, for many years, the logo consisted of intersecting blue and red curves. The current logo, in the shape of a delta, was created in 2014 and symbolizes three aspects – physical, mental and social – of exercising.
Salomon
Not the first, but the last company in this shoe guide to take its name from its founder. In this case, Georges Solomon, who founded the company in 1947. The logo, although it has changed over the years, has the form of an inscription and a characteristic monogram of the letter “S”.
Saucony
Saucony is named after the Saucony Creek in Pennsylvania. At the end of the 19th century, four American entrepreneurs founded a shoe factory on the river. The company that was founded was named after the stream. The river also inspired the brand logo. The wide, winding letter “S” refers to the shape of the river, while the three dots in the middle symbolize the three stones at the bottom of the riverbed.
Under Armour
To understand the history of the name, you have to go back to the beginnings of the company. It was founded by Kevin Plank, an American football player who was generally dissatisfied with the sportswear available at the time. So he created his own. From there, it was only a small step to the name. As the name suggests, Under Armor was designed to be worn under football pads. The logo, on the other hand, is a cross between the stylized letters U and A. Nothing could be simpler.
