Who Made Nikes
Nike is one of the most popular and successful brands in the world. But who made Nike shoes?
In 1964, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman founded Blue Ribbon Sports, which would later become Nike. Knight was a University of Oregon runner who had been importing Japanese running shoes to the United States. Bowerman was a track and field coach at Oregon and had been looking for a way to make a better running shoe.
The two men started the company with a $500 loan from Knight’s father and began importing running shoes from Japan. In 1971, they officially changed the company name to Nike and began selling shoes out of Knight’s car.
Nike’s big break came in 1978, when they signed a contract with American runner Steve Prefontaine. Prefontaine’s endorsement helped Nike become a major player in the running shoe market.
Nike continued to grow in the 1980s and 1990s, thanks in part to their endorsement deals with famous athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.
Today, Nike is a multi-billion dollar company and one of the most popular brands in the world. Who made Nike shoes? Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman.
