The adidas Gazelle was introduced in 1966 as a low-cut training shoe made with suede.
The Gazelle developed from adidas’s earlier training footwear and became notable for its simple upper, three stripes, rubber outsole, and suede construction. The 1966 version is generally treated as the first major Gazelle model, while later editions appeared in different materials and color combinations.
Although designed for sport, the shoe gradually moved into everyday fashion. Its clean shape made it popular in European casualwear, music scenes, terrace culture, and later global streetwear. That broad adoption helped make the Gazelle one of adidas’s enduring lifestyle silhouettes.
It is often confused with the adidas Campus because both are low-profile suede sneakers with three stripes. The Campus became especially prominent in later skate and hip-hop contexts, while the Gazelle has its own earlier training-shoe history and distinctive profile.