Behind the Scenes of adidas’ Technical Training Center
See why adidas is partnering with suppliers at its Technical Training Center, and how it aims to grow shoemaking expertise and drive product excellence.
For over 75 years, adidas has been synonymous with creating industry‑leading sports and lifestyle footwear. Back in the beginning, shoe production was driven entirely in-house. But as our brand – and the global demand for our products expanded, the scale and complexity of making footwear evolved with it.
Nowadays, the vast majority of our products are manufactured for us by trusted external partners; but the responsibility to understand how great footwear is made still sits firmly with us. Because of this, it’s essential for our internal Product Development and Sourcing teams to build strong technical skills to truly understand the fundamentals of shoemaking process – from the first stitch to the final product.
Mastering these foundations enables us to lead, innovate, and ensure product excellence across our entire creation process. To support this, we set up the Technical Training Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, built in close collaboration with our local suppliers.
Partnering up for personal growth
The Technical Training Center is founded on the belief that face‑to‑face learning is one of the most effective ways for people to build a deep understanding of technical concepts. In‑person sessions create real‑time interaction, allowing trainees and trainers to connect, ask questions, and learn by doing.
It’s a place where employees from adidas and our external suppliers come together to learn, collaborate, and exchange experiences and best practices from across the footwear industry.
Specifically designed for our Product Development and Sourcing teams, the center covers 3,000 square meters, with 1,000 square meters dedicated to training rooms, a pattern‑making room, and a material library. The remaining 2,000 square meters are dedicated to a fully equipped workshop housing more than 80 machines – providing everything needed to create a shoe from raw materials to the final product and enabling a complete end‑to‑end shoemaking experience.
So that’s the space, but how do we use it?
In 2025, the Technical Training Center launched its first wave of programs, with a dedicated focus on shoemaking – a critical foundation for strengthening our teams’ technical capabilities.
The courses are driven by experienced internal specialists, skilled trainers from our manufacturing partners, and external industry experts, all working together to equip our teams with the knowledge needed to drive product excellence.
Shoe Making Fundamentals Program
The Fundamentals program runs for four consecutive weeks and aims to give participants a solid foundation in the art of shoemaking. It covers key aspects of the process – from design and pattern making to upper and bottom materials – with a strong focus on the core elements of shoe construction: cutting, stitching, and assembly.
Through a combination of classroom learning and hands‑on practice, participants operate in a workshop environment that reflects real mass‑production conditions. Throughout the shoemaking process, technicians and skilled shoemakers guide our employees, instilling best practices, production standards, and the technical precision required for quality at scale.
As part of the learning experience, participants create two pairs of shoes based on one of our most iconic products: the adidas Superstar. The first pair is crafted using manual stitching, while the second is produced using automated stitching, giving trainees first‑hand insight into both traditional craftsmanship and industrial manufacturing.
Shoe Making Advanced Program
The Shoe Making Advanced Program represents the next stage in adidas’ technical learning journey, designed for employees who already possess a solid understanding of footwear functions and construction principles.
The six‑week program provides deeper insights into shoe manufacturing processes, with a focus on advanced construction techniques and their impact on performance, structure, sustainability, and manufacturability.
Participants work across both sports and lifestyle products, expanding their technical perspective while navigating the balance between heritage and innovation.
The curriculum is built around two adidas footwear models: The Samoa, reflecting classic craftsmanship, and the Adistar Byd, representing modern performance engineering.
Through end‑to‑end exposure to upper creation, bottom engineering, material selection, and construction methods, trainees strengthen their ability to make informed decisions throughout the product creation process. The program also introduces key principles in footwear costing and quality standards, reinforcing the connection between manufacturing choices and product excellence.
All of the above highlights adidas’ commitment to preserving the craft of shoemaking, while driving innovation and excellence across our global teams. The Shoe Making Advanced Program continues to strengthen technical capability, global collaboration, and the craftsmanship mindset that underpins adidas’ leadership in product creation.
Looking forwards
The feedback from these courses has been nothing but positive. While our people get to draw from a rich, multicultural experience that develops their individual skills, the company also gains a lot from their participation – helping us thrive and stay competitive in the market. The added benefit is the more if you invest in your people and their personal development, the more likely it is that you will retain those skills. It’s a win-win.
We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far. In 2025 – the first year of operation – more than 100 employees successfully completed this unique training opportunity. Given its success in footwear, the team driving this initiative will extend the program’s offering to include apparel and accessories and we’re excited to see how it grows.
