Adidas Handball Spezial

The Adidas Handball Spezial is a legendary silhouette that was first introduced in 1979 in Germany. Originally engineered specifically for the fast-paced, high-friction environment of professional handball, it featured a durable suede upper and a distinctive gum rubber sole designed for superior traction on indoor courts. During the 1980s, the shoe transitioned from the court to the streets, becoming a cornerstone of the UK's 'Terrace' fashion movement among football fans.

Today, the Handball Spezial remains one of the brand's most popular lifestyle models. While the flagship 'Made in Germany' editions are still meticulously crafted at the Adidas factory in Scheinfeld, the standard retail versions are typically manufactured in various locations across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and Indonesia, to meet global demand.

Adidas is a publicly traded German multinational corporation (Adidas AG). It was founded by Adolf 'Adi' Dassler in 1949 in Herzogenaurach, Germany, following a split from his brother Rudolf, who went on to found Puma. As of 2026, Adidas remains one of the world's leading sportswear manufacturers, managed by a diverse group of international shareholders and led by its corporate headquarters in Bavaria.