Beginner's Guide to adidas Gazelle

History of the adidas Gazelle 

The adidas Gazelle was released in the late ’60s and amalgamated design elements previously established on innovative styles such as 1960’s Rom and 1964’s Olympiade. It is distinguished as the first Three Stripes shoes to be made of suede.

Devised for sports, the original Gazelle featured colorways aligned with particular disciplines (for example, blue for training and red for handball). Its cultural relevance diminished during the ’70s, owing to the emergence of newer models, including the Athen and Jaguar (with the latter named after what is infamously one of the gazelle antelope’s most feared enemies). However, while the Gazelle’s status may have dimmed on the performance front, its cultural cachet boomed, becoming a totemic symbol of rebellion among soccer casuals, as well as a regular fixture in music scenes spanning hip-hop, reggae and Britpop. The shoe became particularly synonymous with supermodel Kate Moss, who regularly wore them during the ’90s.

The two most common versions of the shoe share the same name. The original Gazelle was released in 1968 with a slim midsole and short tongue, while an updated Gazelle, often called the Gazelle 2, was released a few years later and is slightly weightier, with a more heavily branded design. These two different sets of specifications for the same shoe can be confusing; most people choose a favorite based on personal preference. Many would call the 1991 version of the Gazelle 2 the most recognizable.

In 2023, Harry Styles fans nicknamed the Gazelle the “Satellite Stompers,” in reference to the trademark stomping dance he performed to the song “Satellite” during his ‘Love on Tour’ concert tour. adidas embraced the name by also referring to the Gazelle as Satellite Stompers on the shoe’s product page. The likes of Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid have also been seen wearing the shoe.

Today, along with the Samba and Campus, the Gazelle is a global sneaker icon and a pillar of adidas’ footwear program.

Different Types of adidas Gazelles

The Gazelle is generally produced in full family size runs, including men’s, women’s, kids’, GS (Grade School) and PS (Pre-School) sizes. Cementing its status as an enduring sneaker icon, the shoe has been perennially updated with new modifications. Below, find a list of spin-offs from the original release.

Gazelle Bold (Platform)

The Gazelle Bold is highlighted by a triple-stacked gum outsole, bearing similarities to the Sambarose. Today, the bold style is dressed in a variety of vibrant color stories.

Gazelle Indoor

Taking its inspiration from the Handball Spezial silhouette, the Gazelle Indoor was designed for indoor court use. Generally speaking, the main difference from the original is a translucent gum sole that wraps the entire sole unit, though certain models are equipped with an impenetrable midsole.

Gazelle 85

The Gazelle 85 maintains many of the same design hallmarks as the original, with a tweaked upper featuring a wider toe box. The midsole is also stacked slightly thicker.

Gazelle 91

Yet another subtle update, the Gazelle 91 is notable for its molded tongue. This iteration is typically associated with the Britpop era.

Gazelle ADV

A skateboarding remaster of the classic, the Gazelle ADV is reinforced with higher foxing tape and a Geoflex outsole for elevated grip.

Gazelle Super

The Gazelle Super is elevated with soft suede materials, a retro nameplate on the lateral side and a gum rubber sole unit.

Best adidas Gazelle Colorways

With over 50 years of history, adidas has produced the Gazelle in countless color combinations. Below, a list of some of the most iconic Gazelle colorways.

Bliss Pink Purple

A soft pink upper is adorned with tonal purple hits on the heel counter and Three Stripes logo for a vibrant style. Gold detailing and a translucent gum outsole complete the look.

Faded Archive

Forest green nubuck dominates the upper of the 'Faded Archive' Gazelle, complemented with tones of cream and off-white.

Scarlet Gum

The 'Scarlet Gum' Gazelle is dressed in a piercing red hue. The gum outsole, white heel tab and Three Stripes add contrast, finished with a gold Gazelle wordmark.

Blue Bird Gum

The Gazelle is arguably more synonymous with blue than any other colorway, particularly in the UK where it became a de rigeur part of the soccer terrace uniform. The ‘Blue Bird Gum’ iteration conveys a retro aesthetic, offset with the traditional Indoor gum midsole.

Core Black

For a more formal Gazelle, consider the ‘Core Black’ version. The versatile shoe is an ideal dressier option for smart casual styles.

Collegiate Green Pink

A shock of pink at the heel tab and insole adds a flamboyant twist to the ‘Collegiate Green Pink’ Gazelle Indoor. The serrated Three Stripes logos on the lateral sides are finished in white.

Features of adidas Gazelle Shoes

Simple and streamlined, the Gazelle has endured the test of time thanks to its versatile, low-key aesthetic. Below, find a guide to the fundamental components of the classic shoe.

Suede/Nubuck Upper

Famously, the Gazelle is regarded as one of the first-ever sports shoes to be made from suede. The material, nubuck, is employed throughout the upper, serving as the base for the iconic Three Stripes logo. Throughout history, alternative versions of the Gazelle have been constructed from materials such as jacquard canvas and patent leather.

Rubber Outsole

The traditional Gazelle features a textured rubber midsole, while others, like the Gazelle Indoor, use a translucent gum variation. Both offer adequate traction.

Textile Lining

A soft textile lining adds to the overall comfort of the Gazelle.

Popular Collaborations for adidas Gazelles

The Gazelle continues to serve as a perennial creative reference point for adidas’ outside collaborators. Below, find an overview of some recent popular collaborations.

Gucci x  adidas Gazelle

Gucci’s monumental 2022 collaboration with adidas saw the Italian house apply luxury codes to a range of Three Stripe footwear icons. This included the Gazelle, which was elevated with materials such as monogram canvas. 

Sean Wotherspoon x adidas Gazelle

Footwear designer Sean Wotherspoon is a self-confessed long-term fan of the Gazelle. In 2023, the designer composed a variation of the shoe in his signature corduroy textile, complete with abstract graphics that nod to the ’60s and ’70s.

Y-3 x adidas Gazelle

Yohji Yamamoto is widely regarded as the godfather of monochromatic color palettes. In 2022, he enlisted the Gazelle as a canvas for experimentation, applying exposed stitching details and mudguards to black and white silhouettes.

Satta x adidas Gazelle

Renowned for its use of earth-conscious materials, London label Satta refashioned the Gazelle’s upper using hemp, cork, organic cotton and wool. The sneaker is dressed in an off-white colorway.

Blondey McCoy x adidas A.B. Gazelle

Skater, artist, designer and model Blondey McCoy unveiled a silhouette called the A.B. Gazelle in 2022, which sported his own name in place of the usual Gazelle wordmark. McCoy described the shoe as a four-way assemblage of a Gazelle Indoor, an Indoor Super, a Wensley and a Blondey Superstar.

adidas Gazelle FAQ

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