The History of Nike: From a Car Boot to a Global Empire

7 min read · Kiri Sneakers Outlet, Nha Trang

Today even people who have never run a mile recognise the swoosh. But it all started modestly: University of Oregon student Phil Knight selling Japanese running shoes straight out of the boot of his Plymouth at track meets.

Blue Ribbon Sports: the Japanese beginning

In 1962 Knight — a middle-distance runner with a Stanford business degree — travelled to Japan and secured US distribution rights for Onitsuka Tiger shoes (the company known today as ASICS). Together with his university coach Bill Bowerman he founded Blue Ribbon Sports, with roughly a thousand dollars of starting capital between them.

Bowerman was more than a coach — he was an obsessive tinkerer who re-stitched his athletes' shoes by hand, chasing every spare gram of weight.

The waffle iron that changed running

By the early 1970s the partnership with Japan had soured, and the pair decided to launch their own brand. The name Nike — after the Greek goddess of victory — was suggested by their first employee, Jeff Johnson. The swoosh logo was drawn by design student Carolyn Davidson for a fee of $35 (the company later thanked her with stock).

Then came the breakfast that made history. Looking at a household waffle iron, Bowerman had the idea of pouring rubber into it: the ridged sole came out light and grippy. That's how the Waffle Trainer — Nike's first big hit — was born.

Air Jordan: the deal of the century

In 1984 Nike signed NBA rookie Michael Jordan. The five-year contract was considered madness — even established stars weren't paid that much. But the very first Air Jordans sold in the millions, and the league even fined Jordan for his “too colourful” shoes. Nike happily paid the fines and turned them into advertising.

Air Jordan turned sneakers from sports equipment into culture. Release-day queues, resale markets and sneaker collecting all trace back to that moment.

Technology and the present day

Then came Air Max with its visible air unit, the React foam, the knitted Flyknit upper, and carbon plates in Vaporfly marathon shoes — controversial enough to spark serious debates about “technological doping”. Nike long ago stopped being just a shoe company: it's media, sport and street fashion at once.

What to pick from Nike today

• Air Force 1 — the eternal everyday classic.
• Air Max — comfort with an unmistakable silhouette.
• Pegasus — the dependable all-round runner.

Remember that Nike tends to run small — trying on is a must. We covered sizing in detail in our size guide.