Adidas “Mekalux oy” Industrial Crewneck — Late 80s — Made in Finland

Adidas “Mekalux OY” Industrial Crewneck — Late 80s — Made in Finland

ThePlugOfVintage presents a rare and exceptional late-1980s Adidas crewneck sweatshirt, produced in Finland under official Adidas licence by Kuntopuku Oy — custom-commissioned by Finnish electrical contractor Mekalux OY with the company name printed across the back in bold dark blue. One of the most distinctive pieces of Finnish corporate vintage we have encountered.

Vivid yellow body with dark navy sleeve stripes and grey detailing. Back features the bold MEKALUX OY custom print. Adidas Trefoil logo on the chest. Size L.

• Brand: Adidas — Trefoil era
• Licence manufacturer: Kuntopuku Oy, Finland
• Era: Late 1980s
• Country of manufacture: Finland (Made in Finland by licence)
• Style: Custom corporate crewneck sweatshirt
• Colours: Yellow body, dark navy stripes, grey details
• Back print: MEKALUX OY (custom commission)
• Size: L

About Mekalux OY — Finnish Electrical Heritage

Mekalux OY was a Finnish electrical installation and contracting company registered in 1979, at its most active precisely during the 1980s construction and electrification boom. As industrial buildings, commercial properties, and residential blocks were modernised at pace across Finland, Mekalux OY was among the specialist electrical contractors doing the work.

In the early 1980s, contractors and electrical engineers needed durable, professional clothing for both physical installation work and client-facing occasions. Mekalux OY chose to outfit its staff and partners with the best available — an officially licensed, Finnish-made Adidas sweatshirt with a custom back print bearing the company name. This is that garment.

Made in Finland by Licence — Why This Matters

During the 1970s and 1980s, global brands like Adidas did not own their own factories in every country. Instead, they sold precise manufacturing licences to the finest textile producers in each market. In Finland, Adidas’s official licence manufacturer and importer was Kuntopuku OY (with Kestilän tehtaat also involved in later periods).

This meant: German design, Finnish quality. Adidas supplied official patterns, logo specifications, and brand guidelines. The garments were woven, cut, and sewn entirely in Finland by Finnish textile workers. Because these pieces were made for the Nordic market, Kuntopuku OY used exceptionally heavy, structured, long-staple cotton blend fabrics — engineered to withstand hard use and cold conditions. Forty years later, that quality is still immediately apparent in the hand of the fabric.

A Finnish-made Adidas licence piece is already rare. A custom-commissioned corporate version with a named company back print is rarer still — produced in tiny quantities for a single client, never intended for retail.

Condition

9/10 — Excellent Vintage

• Exceptional condition for a late 80s garment of this type — presents as essentially unworn
• Vivid yellow colour fully retained
• Back print crisp and intact
• Fabric is clean and structured
• Faint mark on the front hemline — barely perceptible
• No tears, no odour, no structural damage

A late 80s Adidas Mekalux OY custom crewneck — Made in Finland by Kuntopuku OY licence, yellow/navy, size L. Finnish corporate vintage at its rarest.

Please note — Vintage Item Disclaimer

All items at ThePlugOfVintage are thoroughly inspected, documented, and photographed before listing. Any known flaws or imperfections are always disclosed in the product description — we believe in full transparency, because that’s the standard serious collectors deserve.

We kindly ask that you read the product description carefully and take time to review all provided images before purchasing. Our goal is to present every flaw and detail as accurately as possible — so you know exactly what you’re getting.

That said, vintage garments carry decades of history, and occasional minor signs of age, wear, or natural material changes may exist beyond what even a careful inspection can detect. If you have any specific condition questions, we are always happy to present the item personally upon request.

Every piece we list is sold as-is, as a vintage item.