Adidas Gazelle: Complete History & Timeline of the Classic Sneaker

Riley Jones

May 31, 2024 at 10:04 PM·4 min read

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The Adidas Samba may be at the forefront of the brand’s low-top, soccer-informed silhouettes, but it’s far from the only significant one in the Three Stripes archive. Elsewhere in the family tree lies the Adidas Gazelle, a shoe which similarly helped mold the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based company’s history and remains relevant today.

Where the first incarnation of the Adidas Samba arrived in 1949, the Gazelle came nearly 20 years later. The Gazelle was reminiscent of the Samba in its overall build — both shoes use Adidas’ signature “T-toe” overlay and feature thin soles — but a closer inspection reveals some stark differences between the two. While the Samba was introduced in black leather and is best known for its monochrome styles, the Gazelle offered bolder looks that stood out in the marketplace.

According to Adidas, the Gazelle hit the market in 1966 in two bright suede colors. For indoor sports such as handball, there was a red suede pair with a transparent herringbone sole. And for training, the brand offered a blue suede option with a microcellular rubber sole.

The Gazelle’s 1971 hexagonal outsole update. Credit: Adidas

Like the Samba, the Gazelle in its early days saw a number of modifications before landing on the look that people are familiar with now. The biggest change came in 1971, when both iterations of the Gazelle adopted a new hexagonal outsole which Adidas touted as top-performing traction of its time. Small tweaks were also made to the heel and tongue, resulting in an overall sleeker shape.

However, in contrast to the Samba, which took awhile to catch on as a lifestyle sneaker, the Gazelle’s use of suede and eye-catching colors gave it near-instant appeal outside of sport. It was worn by celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones in the ‘70s. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, the shoe continued to gain credibility thanks to big names including the Beastie Boys, Oasis and model Kate Moss.

Kate Moss wears the Adidas Gazelle in 1993 photoshoot. Credit: Denzil McNeelance/Adidas

The shoe’s popularity (and availability in certain markets) would fluctuate in the 2000s, although its stateside presence was stinted. In Europe, the original-style Gazelle never really went away, but it wasn’t until 2016 that it saw a full-fledged relaunch in the States.

Currently, the most coveted takes on the Gazelle include its numerous collaborations with Italian fashion house Gucci. Since the 2022 debut of the Gucci x Adidas partnership, the brands have released nearly 30 different variations of the Gazelle across men’s and women’s sizing. Much like the original Gazelles from 1966, the Gucci-designed pairs are some of the most vibrant looks on the market today. There are pink velvets, bright blue nylons, and of course, styles covered in Gucci’s iconic monogram pattern. Aside from Gucci, another noteworthy Adidas Gazelle collaborator from recent years is vintage clothing specialist Sean Wotherspoon.

The trend of celebrities gravitating toward the Gazelle has also continued. Post-pandemic, the sneaker been a street style staple, frequently worn by the likes of Gigi Hadid, Brad Pitt, Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde.

While the Gazelle’s modern day comeback hasn’t been quite as impactful as that of the Samba, it’s an integral piece of Three Stripes history and remains relevant decades later.