No More Simple Heat-Applied 3 Stripes on Adidas Authentic Kits
Aug 24, 2026, by Chris
- End of Heat-Applied Stripes: Adidas has completely moved away from the conventional heat-applied vinyl decals for the three-stripes on their authentic kits.
- Integrated Stripes for Modern Kits: For kits featuring the modern performance logo, Adidas now directly integrates the Three Stripes into the woven mesh fabric on side panels and shorts, allowing them to stretch naturally during movement.
- Herringbone Texture for Retro Kits: Retro-inspired Trefoil releases feature laid-on Three Stripes finished with a specialized herringbone-tape texture, providing a classic fashion detail.
Adidas has completely moved away from the conventional heat-applied vinyl decals for their authentic kits.
Adidas 26-27 Authentic Kit Construction - Directly Integrated Stripes & Herringbone Finish (Trefoil)
Instead of applying standard flat transfers that risk peeling or cracking over time, Adidas has directly integrated the Three Stripes into the woven mesh fabric on the side panels and shorts of kits featuring the modern performance logo - the 3 stripes call this "engineered 3 stripes." During active match play, these engineered stripes stretch and expand naturally alongside the fabric. This effect has already been spotted in competitive debuts, where pulled shorts and shirts visibly expand their striping seamlessly.
For the retro-inspired Trefoil releases, Adidas relies on laid-on Three Stripes finished with a specialized herringbone-tape texture, a classic fashion feature.
Together, the woven integration and herringbone detailing showcase that Adidas is aware that thin heat-applied applications look cheap, and that they can offer something better while maintaining a light weight.
VfL Osnabrück 26-27 Special DFB-Pokal Kit Released - Worn Against Bayern Munich
German club VfL Osnabrück have unveiled a special kit for their DFB-Pokal first-round clash against FC Bayern Munich. Manufactured by Capelli Sport, the one-off jersey pays homage to one of the biggest cup upsets in German football history, when Osnabrück defeated Bayern 5-4 at the Olympiastadion in Munich on September 23, 1978.
The Osnabrück 26-27 DFB-Pokal special shirt closely mirrors the clean aesthetic worn during that historic 1978 triumph. Predominantly white, it features a bold retro polo collar and matching sleeve cuffs in Osnabrück's signature purple.
Completing the look, the special edition kit is paired with matching white shorts and socks accented by purple detailing. The kit will be worn exclusively during the home cup tie against Bayern Munich at the Bremer Brücke and is available through the club's official retail channels.
Sergio Camello Scores Against Barcelona in White Adidas Predator 94 Remake Boots
Rayo Vallecano forward Sergio Camello delivered a notable boot spotting during their La Liga clash against FC Barcelona, taking to the pitch in the white Adidas Predator 94 remake boots. The Spanish striker put the heritage silhouette in the spotlight at Spotify Camp Nou, finding the back of the net twice while laced up in the inverted 1994 classic featuring a white base, black Three Stripes, and small, signature red accents.
Hanoi FC Uses Same Adidas Template as Mercedes F1 Shirt
Vietnamese V.League 1 side Hanoi FC and Adidas have unveiled the first kits from their new partnership, with the design immediately sparking discussion over its unusual short Three Stripes layout across the shoulders.
The shirt uses a new Adidas template with short 3-Stripes on the shoulders and a classic crew neck, a design primarily seen on takedown jersey (fan version). The same template is also used by Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1, including the team's latest “Vanda Bloom” collection. The purple colourway closely matches Hanoi FC's traditional identity.
The shirt uses a mixed construction: the body features standard Adidas Climacool fabric, while the sleeves use Player-version material.
What do you think of adidas using the same template for Hanoi FC and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.