Nike

NIKE: THE WORLD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL SPORTS BRAND

'NIKE' A NAME THAT SYMBOLIZES VICTORY

Nike is named after the Greek goddess of victory, and the company's logo, the "Swoosh", is inspired by one of the goddess Nike's wings. This symbolizes a winning mentality and is also shaped like a check mark, indicating fluid movement and speed. Nike's founders wanted to create a sports brand with Nike shoes that represented victory and achievement, and their choice of name and logo has certainly helped to cement this identity in people's minds to this day.

FROM BLUE RIBBON SPORTS TO NIKE SNEAKERS

Nike was founded in the United States in 1964 under the name Blue Ribbon Sports by college runner Phil Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman. The two began by marketing the Japanese sneaker brand Onitsuka Tiger, but Bowerman's innovative idea of ​​using his wife's waffle iron to make grooved shoe soles for running shoes led to the company launching its own product line in 1971. That same year, BRS changed its name to Nike, and the logo 'The Swoosh' for their Nike shoes was created by young graphic designer Carolyn Davidson.

NIKE SHOES, CORTEZ: THE SNEAKER THAT MADE NIKE WORLD FAMOUS

Before the Nike Dunk / Nike Dunk Low era, it was completely different models that ruled the show. During the 1972 Olympic Games, Nike introduced the iconic running shoe, the Nike Cortez for men and women, which made the brand world famous. The shoes reduced injuries and stood out with a youthful, modern design that athletes as well as a wide range of celebrities embraced. From Farrah Fawcett in Charlie's Angels to Whitney Houston at the 1991 Super Bowl and Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, the Cortez Nike Shoe has been a symbol of both athletic performance and style.

Today, the Nike Cortez model is an iconic sign of Nike's success and history, even though the model is no longer on the mainstream wavelength - however, Retro models tend to come to light again several years after their original release....

AIR JORDAN & JUST DO IT HIT THE 80'S

In the 80s, Nike was embraced by hip-hop culture, and in 1984, the brand struck gold with the first Air Jordan sneaker, designed for basketball star Michael Jordan. The Nike Jordan shoes became one of the most popular Nike sneakers, continuing to be released in limited edition designs and selling for staggering amounts on auction sites. The 80s was also the decade when Nike's brilliant slogan "Just Do It" was coined by advertising executive Dan Wieden, inspired by the last words of notorious American serial killer Gary Gilmore before his execution; "Let's do it"! Today, the slogan is probably one of the most popularly recognized in the world.

NIKE'S ICONIC LOGO: AN INVESTMENT OF JUST 35 DOLLARS

With such an iconic logo as Nike's on, for example, the Nike Air Force 1 (which is a shoe that has REALLY been a hit), you would think that a large, reputable graphic design company was behind it, and that Nike had paid the coffers to have its logo designed. But it turns out that's not the case. Back in 1971, Nike paid only a measly 35 dollars (around 230 DKK) for its logo. Nike's iconic logo was designed by Carolyn Davidson, who studied graphic design at Portland State University in the USA in 1971. Carolyn Davidson doesn't remember how long it took her to design the logo, but she billed for 17.5 hours. Spending about 17.5 hours designing a logo was quite normal, but it only brought in a total of 35 dollars, even though it has helped to bring a legendary legacy of millions of Nike sneakers . Davidson is therefore one of the most talked about women when talking about Nike's history and the origins of Nike shoes. For Nike, 'Less is more' has been true, and perhaps part of the key to their timeless elegance.

NIKE SNEAKERS: COLLABORATION WITH SPORTS STARS

One of the reasons for Nike's success is their collaboration with and sponsorship of some of the world's biggest male and female sports stars. From Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mia Hamm to Roger Federer and Tiger Woods, Nike has always been closely associated with athletes who strive for victory and achievement. This has helped promote their Nike shoes, and cemented Nike's image as a brand synonymous with sporting success and achievement. Nike has actually become so big as a brand that it takes a lot to collaborate with them.

NIKETOWN: A TRIBUTE TO NIKE'S SPORTS STARS

The NikeTown chain of stores, the first of which opened in 1990, pays tribute to Nike's partners and sports stars while offering consumers a full range of Nike products. These stores have helped to reinforce Nike's image as a premium sports brand and have helped to increase the company's Nike Footwear sales and global reach.

NIKE X GIVENCHY, KANYE WEST AND OTHER FASHION GIANTS

In the 21st century, Nike has collaborated with some of the biggest names in fashion, including former Givenchy chief designer Riccardo Tisci and Comme des Garçons, on Nike shoes. This has helped to blur the line between high fashion and sportswear, cementing Nike's position as a leading player in both fashionable Nike sneakers and sportswear, for both men and women. Not all Nike collaborations have been equally successful, however: In 2009, the brand collaborated with Kanye West, who designed the Nike Air Yeezy shoe. The collaboration was hugely praised by sneakerheads, but West didn't think he was being paid enough. The rapper therefore switched to Adidas , which now makes a fortune on Yeezys.

EXPANSION OF NIKE SHOES

Since the late 1980s, Nike has steadily expanded its business and diversified its product range through a series of acquisitions and new product lines. These include footwear brands Cole Haan and Converse, sporting goods company Canstar Sports, and apparel and equipment company Umbro. In 1996, Nike Sneakers launched ACG ("all-conditions gear"), which markets products for extreme sports such as snowboarding and mountain biking. In the 21st century, Nike has also begun selling sports technology accessories, including wearable heart rate monitors and altimeter compasses. The brand is a global favorite for both men and women, with the Nike Air Max being one of the best-selling models today, and specific models such as the ' Nike Dunk Low Panda ' being mass-produced.

Nike is today without a doubt the biggest shoe brand in the world - and one of the biggest brands of all time. Will there ever be another brand that will break through in the same caliber with the same unique feel? No, we don't think so.

If you need more inspiration for street style, check out Vogue's article about street style trends among men.