Adidas Gazelle

About

The Adidas Gazelle began as a training shoe in 1966, evolving from the brand's earlier Olympiade model. At launch it was unique as Adidas's first shoe crafted from suede rather than canvas or leather, immediately setting it apart from everything else in the catalogue. The original Gazelle came in two versions: a red outdoor model and a blue indoor version, each featuring specific traction suited to its environment. In 1979, Adidas revisited the Gazelle and introduced a transparent sole, giving the Indoor version a distinctive silhouette described as longer and less bulky than the standard model. The Indoor's trefoil-patterned outsole became a defining detail of the shoe. Over subsequent decades the Gazelle moved well beyond the training ground. It found a home in the British Britpop and hip-hop scenes of the 1980s and 1990s as an affordable yet stylish alternative to pricier offerings. The shoe experienced a fresh cultural surge in 2023 when Harry Styles wore the Gazelle Indoor on his Love On Tour, with fans coining the nickname "Satellite Stompers." The Adidas Originals line has continued to reissue the Gazelle across updated colourways and contemporary variants including the Bold and ADV.