NIKE
Brand Info
Sportswear giant- Nike humbly began through Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight's passion for running; the two visionaries created Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964 as a distributor for Onitsuka Tiger running shoes. The company continued to grow, their first full-time employee Jeff Johnson was credited for the Nike name as they began to diverge from distribution towards design and manufacturing in 1971. As the track and field coach at the University of Oregon, Bill Bowerman had already been experimenting with a number of ways to improve running performance including cobbling his own shoes. By 1972 the famous "Swoosh" had been adopted by Nike as they introduced their new line of running shoes for the U.S. Track & Field Trials. The light-weight waffle iron inspired runners was a revolution in the industry. Nike began their now unparalleled level of athletic endorsements with running champion Steve Prefontaine. Nike continued their innovation with the creation of the now iconic Air technology in 1979 along with dominant marketing campaigns that included Michael Jordan in 1985; their refocus on running in 1987 with Air Max; and their "Bo Knows" cross-training series with Bo Jackson in 1989. Nike has defined itself through their dedication "to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world". The company continues to equip athletes with functional and aesthetically pleasing footwear as they have established itself at the forefront of fashion; creating some of the most sought after footwear ever made.