The world of sportswear and footwear is hard to imagine without the Nike brand. From functional running sneakers to iconic models that have become fashion must-haves, Nike contributes to both. Each year, approximately 900,000 Nike products are sold around the planet. And the brand’s beautifully shot commercials won two Emmy Awards: in 2000 and 2002.
The name “Nike” was taken after the Greek goddess of victory of the same name, and the iconic “Swoosh” logo, which symbolizes an air rush, was designed for just $35.
One of Nike’s key traits is to revolutionize innovation in the field of athletic footwear. Nike skillfully uses the image of sports stars to promote its products. Collaborations with sports stars help form Nike’s association with victories and achievements.
By the early 2000s, the company reaches unimaginable size, with dozens of top athletes in partnership, thousands of employees, huge production sites in different countries, and a huge network of stores around the world.
In recent years, the company has been involved in many charitable initiatives. Engaged in the popularization of sports and healthy lifestyles, helps in the fight against hunger and various diseases. Continuously carries out environmental protection measures, and minimizes harmful emissions during production.
Nike is a legend in sportswear and footwear, an innovator in all areas of business and production. Many of the company’s models have become truly legendary, and it is about just such models that we want to talk below.
In 1987, the Nike brand began selling the Air Max sneaker, and the visible air cushion became not only a hallmark of the entire Air Max series but also synonymous with innovation and style. The father of Air Max, Tinker Hatfield, found inspiration for the design of the units in the architecture of the Pompidou Center during his visit to Paris. Hatfield, who was trained as an architect, took a cue from the building’s inside-out style, where all communications are brought to the outside. From this emerged the idea of showing the insides of the outsole. Today, the Air Max line is a favorite for many people.
The Air Force 1 was released in 1982 as a professional basketball shoe. The first-ever basketball sneaker to utilize Nike Air technology, changing the culture of the game and the sneaker forever. The AF1s have been re-released in 2,000 different designs and have become an essential element of street fashion. These sneakers have been used in everyday looks. Nike significantly modernized the technology but did not deviate from the classic design. The model comes in three variants: low, mid, and high. Each has over a dozen design options for men, women, and children.
The Air Jordan I made its debut in 1985. The black and red pair violated NBA regulations. According to league rules, 51% of the shoe’s surface had to be black or white. From that moment Nike paid $5,000 for every appearance of the basketball player wearing Air Jordan I sneakers. Daring unwillingness to follow the rules and his fantastic game brought instant success. The demand for Air Jordan sneakers in stores exceeded the supply many times over. From that moment on, the Air Jordan line of apparel and sneakers was updated almost every year with advanced models for basketball and eventually became the most important part of Nike’s lifestyle trend.
The Blazer is a high-top sneaker that was originally designed for basketball. This line was developed at Nike’s first factory in Beaverton, Oregon, where the headquarters is now located. It was on them that the “Swoosh,” a logo now known around the world, first appeared. The name was taken in honor of the local NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers. Subsequently, the Blazer has found wider application. Professional basketball players have long performed in lighter models specifically for them, but the line has proven very successful for skateboarding. But by far, the Blazer is now — a street fashion.
The designers of this model were inspired by street style and skateboarding. The Dunk is one of Nike’s most famous and exemplary models, which can rival even the classic Jordan in popularity. The sneakers were designed by Peter Moore and first released in 1985. In the early 2000s, some 15 years after its initial release, the Nike Dunk transformed into the SB (skateboarding), becoming a major inspiration for the current sneaker culture. Certain colorways from the early 2000s are still considered highly influential in sneaker culture.
Nike, guided by the opinions and feedback of thousands of athletes, created the React line, designed to soften the impact of every step. React technology is a breakthrough in the world of athletic footwear: super-soft, yet durable foam provides amazing cushioning. The first in Nike’s React lineup were sneakers like the React Hyperdunk 2017 and Jordan SuperFly 2017. Among the models in which it is used today, the Infinity Run has become the most popular due to its successful design and practicality.
The name “Presto” was not adopted until 2000, but in 1996 the prototype was ready – a leather sneaker with mesh inserts and a V-neck. Comfort, lightness, and futuristic design – characteristics that were synonymous with this model when it hit the market. Over the next few years, the brand created many unusual models based on the Air Presto: from slip-ons to hiking shoes. The most high-profile release was a variant from Off-White: the Air Presto was part of The Ten’s original set of silhouettes in 2017.
The Pegasus line was developed in 1983 as a solution to the “model for running” challenge. It quickly becomes an icon thanks to its affordability and Air technology. In 20 years, the Pegasus has become a running classic. An air balloon is introduced into the outsole, making the sneakers even lighter and more springy. The Air Zoom Pegasus 39, a modern model introduced in 2022, incorporates all of the most successful solutions from its predecessor, the Air Zoom Pegasus 35, which sold a record 12 million units in its first year, as well as several new design and technology features.
The Free sole and the Flyknit special weave technology of the main part of the sneaker that lightens the sneaker is the combination that makes the sneaker truly comfortable and noteworthy. Nike Free is a running sneaker designed for short-distance jogging. Such sneakers were not originally a commercial idea, but Nike designers saw a great opportunity. They turned the prototype into a natural running shoe that would fit most runners. The goal was to create a sneaker that would give the feeling of running barefoot.
The history of the Nike Air VaporMax model began in 2017. Then, in honor of the 30th anniversary of Air Max technology, the eponymous running model with innovative Flyknit textile upper and VaporMax cushioning system was born. The prototype for these snickers served as a sample from 1987 and 1997 Nike Air Max 97. Already at that time, Nike achieved that the air is distributed evenly on the sole. But the uniqueness of Nike Air Vapormax lies in the fact that there is completely no foam in the sole. This result was achieved by Nike thanks to the manufacture of a multi-chambered autonomous sole.
The idea for the Huarache was born while water-skiing: designer Tinker Hatfield noticed that neoprene socks fit the foot perfectly. In 1991, the sneaker project was turned into a final model, but it was a complete commercial failure. Only one wholesaler was interested in it, and he ordered only 50 pairs. However the convenience of the model for running, especially over long distances, could not be denied, so they quickly gained popularity among marathon runners. And thanks to a successful media campaign, the line moved to the street segment.
The company’s first success on the way to its production was the Cortez sneaker model, released in 1968. The very first variation of the model had a leather upper. The sneakers looked great and fulfilled all their functions, but proved to be a bit heavy for athletes. Over the next few years, the model changed and acquired various modifications. In the early 2010s, the company began to actively popularize the model among the new generation of sneaker-heads. Nike keeps the Cortez relevant in every way possible – today you can find a variety of models on sale, including suede, leather, and nylon. The silhouette is divided into several versions: the original Classic and the updated Basic.
In 1997, the designer of the iconic Air Max 97, Christian Tresser, added Air Zoom technology to the sole of the running shoe. The Zoom sole is compressed air and tight fibers that absorb shock and reduce pressure on muscles, joints, and ligaments. The technology made its debut in 1995 with the LWP (lightweight performance) sneaker. It was originally called Tensile Air but was renamed a year later. The full potential of the technology was showcased in the Nike Air Zoom Alpha, featuring running cushioning with four anatomically positioned pads that provided support for the entire foot.