Inside the vault behind the revival of the adidas Originals collection.
When adidas invites you to their global headquarters in Germany, you pack your best sneakers, try to play it cool and pray the jetlag holds off long enough to grab a bike and do a lap of the campus (and yes, I did have to pinch myself!).
After 24 hours of travel from the peak of the Gold Coast summer, I arrived in the frosty chill of Munich’s winter. After another two hours by car, I finally arrived in Herzogenaurach – the hometown of the brand’s founder, Adi Dassler, and where adidas remains 75 years later.
Imagining what lay ahead, it was hard not to picture something big. After all it is called the “World of Sports”. But nothing could have prepared me for the experience that unfolded at the brand’s global headquarters. This wasn’t just a clothing or shoe release. This was an all-access pass to step into adidas’ living history – a behind-the-scenes look at how the past fuels the future of golf fashion.
The occasion? The launch of the adidas Originals Golf collection – a bold, new range of apparel and footwear that marks the return of the adidas Trefoil to the fairways. It’s a collection steeped in nostalgia, yet designed with a modern edge. Think classic silhouettes, fresh colourways and unmistakably retro-cool, yet re-imagined for today’s player who wants to stand out.
Blending performance and heritage style doesn’t happen overnight. Rather, it can be rediscovered in a temperature-controlled vault in the valley of the seven-storey Laces building. The visitor book was adorned with world-class athletes, marking their contributions to their sport and donating what they wore when achieving glory.
Stepping into the adidas archive while wearing white gloves to protect everything inside was like walking into a time capsule of floor-to-ceiling rows of history. First shoeboxes, the first adidas tracksuit, court-worn shoes from Stan Smith himself and World Cup-used footballs – every corner whispered a piece of sporting history.
Being led through glimpses of the 40,000-piece collection, the first golf shoe is there, as well as Sandy Lyle’s Masters-winning shoe from 1988. All this history was right there when the adidas golf design team came looking for inspiration.
What struck me most was how the Originals Golf designers didn’t just reference these pieces for aesthetic flair, they studied them, understood how they were worn and worked them into their process. They treated the archive not as a museum, but as the fabric of the DNA in the Originals range.
From that conversation came garments that balance heritage and performance. The collection includes re-imagined Gazelles, Stan Smiths and Sambas that are spikeless and fitted for the course. Polos, pleats and plaid are in, and they wouldn’t look out of place at a cool, inner-city brunch. The vibe? Unapologetically retro with streetwear edge – perfect for the new wave of golfers, those who play for the community, the creativity and the culture.
‘INCLUSIVE AND EXPRESSIVE’
This trip wasn’t just about product. It was about philosophy. Sitting with the design team, I was struck by how intentional every decision was. The materials were chosen not just for aesthetics, but for performance. The colours weren’t just plucked from a mood board, rather pulled from their own archives and intentionally modernised.
And maybe that’s what made this launch feel special. It’s not chasing trends; it’s reclaiming a vibe. Golf fashion has been long overdue for this kind of re-imagining – and they didn’t forget the girls. While the Originals collection is classic, its attitude feels inclusive and expressive. It opens the door to players who may never have felt golf was ‘their sport’.
As adidas Golf creative director Dylan Moore put it, “We intentionally want this being an Originals label to be wearable on the golf course but as importantly, be wearable off the course and not look like you’ve just come off a golf course.”
That idea – of golf wear that carries you from course to café, green to grocer – is part of what makes this collection so resonant. “Life is different these days. People want to go from the golf course into their life and not look different. They want to feel the same and look like themselves,” Moore told me.
We are seeing top athletes and people who influence culture wearing the Trefoil and this nod to a heritage of 75 years is proof that nostalgia is on trend. For the fresh-faced and fashion-forward Linn Grant, style has always been part of her game.
“In high school, I remember waking up way too early to get ready and pick an outfit. It was a show. I think that always travels with me into golf,” said the 25-year-old Swede, who credits her outfits for some of her top performances.
“Looking back on it, I think some of my best tournaments have really been times I felt my best looking. There’s also been times when I had really good outfits laid out for the week and then I missed the cut, and I was so sad because I couldn’t wear the dress. It’s a fun part of my job, for sure.”
Debuting the Originals collection at the LPGA’s Chevron Championship in April highlighted Grant’s fashion-forward approach to the game, but she admits she is a candid critic on giving feedback to the design team.
The return of the Trefoil to the course symbolises more than a stylistic nod. It signals a deeper respect for golf’s cultural significance and history. True to the ideology of being considered an original is a privilege, and adidas knows that becoming ‘great’ is earned and creating a legacy is driven by an unending pursuit of excellence. That’s why adidas loves golf.
Whether you’re fashion-loud or subtly stylish, this collection is made to move with you – on and off the course. If you can’t wear the green jacket, wearing the Trefoil might just be the next best thing to feel like a superstar.
Leaving Germany to come home and thaw out, I carried more than a suitcase full of new shoes and clothes. I also brought home a fresh perspective: golf isn’t just evolving, it’s expanding. And with adidas Originals back in the game, it’s doing it in style.
Make no apology, play bold and always be driven by performance. Above all, have permission to be yourself – because that’s what makes you original. And that should always be celebrated.
