Designer and Retro Trainers at Discount Prices

nikeBrand History

To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.
* If you have a body you’re an athlete.

1955
Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, the future co-founders of Nike, meet at the University of Oregon.

1960
Bill Bowerman handcrafts shoes for his runners at the University of Oregon.

1962
Phil Knight’s business paper at Stanford University provides a model that Japanese imports could end Adidas’ domination of the US training shoe industry through. Knight acquires a distributorship for Onitsuka Tiger shoes in the western US and calls his company “Blue Ribbon Sports”, which is the forerunner of Nike.

1964
Knight’s first shipment of Tiger shoes samples arrive
Knight and Bowerman join together and contribute $500 to the partnership.

1966
Jeff Johnson opens the first BRS retail outlet in Santa Monica, Calif

1967
Knight and Bowerman incorporate BRS, inc., on December 26th, as an Oregon corporation in 1968

1970
Bowerman invents the ‘waffle sole’ by pouring a liquid rubber into a waffle iron,

1971
The famous Swoosh trademark is created by Carolyn Davidson The first Blue Ribbon Sports first footwear to feature the “Swoosh” mark is called ‘Nike’ after the Greek goddess of victory, and a T-shirt produced to promote this shoe becomes the company’s first item of apparel

1972
A distribution dispute leads to litigation and an eventual break between BRS and Onitsuka Tiger.

1973
The first professional athlete to sign an endorsement contract to wear Nike shoes is tennis player Ilie Nastase, and Steve Prefontaine is the first major track athlete to wear Nike brand shoes.

1974
The Waffle Trainer is introduced, featuring the waffle outersole.

1978
Blue Ribbon Sports officially changes its name to NIKE, Inc., and in that same year John McEnroe signs with the company, and 1978 sees the introduction of Nike’s first childrens shoes

1978
Nike Air cushioning invented by Frank Rudy and Nike .

1980
Steve Ovett becomes the first athlete to win a medal wearing Nike shoes with his 800m win in the Moscow Olympics

1982
The Air Force 1 basketball shoe is launched, the first Nike basketball trainer with Nike Air technology.

1985
Air Jordan basketball shoes launched, endorsed by Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls.

1987
The Air Max shoe for athletes is launched with the “Revolution” ad campaign using the Beatles’ song of the same name which is the only time a song recorded by the Beatles has been used in an ad.

1988
Just Do It: One of the most famous Nike advertising campaigns ever. Chosen by Ad Age as one of the top two taglines of the 20th Century.

1990
The first Niketown opens in Portland, Oregon.

1992
Every medallist on the USA Track and Field team in Barcelona wears Nike apparel. And they will do so for every event into the next century as a result of an exclusive agreement between Nike and The Athletics Congress.

1995
The Brazilian National Football Team sign for Nike, and Nike’s international football reputation and sale grow dramatically.

1996
When Tiger Woods turns professional he signs a contract to endorse Nike Golf apparel and footwear

1999
Lance Armstrong wins the Tour de France for the first time

2000
Nike Shox launched featuring a new cushioning technology - stable, spring-like pillars.

2002
Nike celebrates it’s 30th anniversary.

2003
Nike’s international sales exceed it’sU.S sales for the first time
Nike acquires Converse Inc.

2004
Nike-designed Livestrong bracelets, which started out as a fund-raising idea for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, become a Worldwide phenomenon and raises tens of millions of dollars for the LAF, supporting programs that help young people with cancer to ‘live strong.’

2007
Nike opens it’s flagship retail store in Beijing, China

2008
Nike acquires Umbro Ltd., a leading UK global football brand.