The company initially operated in Eugene, Oregon as a distributor for Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger, making most sales at track meets out of Knight's automobile. The signing of basketball player Michael Jordan in 1984, with his subsequent promotion of Nike over the course of his career, with Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon, proved to be one of the biggest boosts to Nike's publicity and sales. [123] These updates came in response to criticisms concerning technology in the Nike Vaporfly running shoes, which had been submitted beginning around 2017–2018. [99] The documentary focused on six girls, who all worked seven days a week, often 16 hours a day. [84], Nike have introduced a premium line, focused more on streetwear than sports wear called NikeLab. By the early 21st century, Nike had retail outlets and distributors in more than 170 countries, and its logo—a curved check mark called the “swoosh”—was recognized throughout the world. [126], Some of the major changes in the guidelines that have come about as a result of these criticisms include that the "sole must be no thicker than 40mm" and that "the shoe must not contain more than one rigid embedded plate or blade (of any material) that runs either the full length or only part of the length of the shoe. It is the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel[4] and a major manufacturer of sports equipment, with revenue in excess of US$37.4 billion in its fiscal year 2020 (ending May 31, 2020). [100][101][102], On November 5, 2017, the Paradise Papers, a set of confidential electronic documents relating to offshore investment, revealed that Nike is among the corporations that used offshore companies to avoid taxes. [54] The Air Zoom Vomero running shoe, introduced in 2006 and currently in its 11th generation, featured a combination of groundbreaking innovations including a full-length air cushioned sole,[55] an external heel counter, a crashpad in the heel for shock absorption, and Fit Frame technology for a stable fit. Nike, Inc. (/ˈnaɪki/)[note 1][3] is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services. For other uses of the name "Nike", see, This list includes companies that produce sports equipment. [24], Throughout the 1980s, Nike expanded its product line to encompass many sports and regions throughout the world. In the early 21st century Nike began selling sports-technology accessories, including portable heart-rate monitors and high-altitude wrist compasses. Future orders of shoes or clothes for delivery between December and April, rose to $10.4 billion. In the United States, Nike products are sold through about 22,000 retail accounts; worldwi de, the company's products are sold in more than 160 countries. The company that would become Nike was created in 1964 and they would open their first retail outlet in 1966. Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight founded the Nike as the company name of Blue Ribbon Sports on 25th January 1964. The story of Nike begins with the story of Blue Ribbon Sports back in 1964. Nike sells an assortment of products, including shoes and apparel for sports activities like association football,[50] basketball, running, combat sports, tennis, American football, athletics, golf, and cross training for men, women, and children. Yue Yuen did underpay an employee by 250 yuan (40.82 US Dollars) per month. Part of Nike’s success is owed to endorsements by such athletes as Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, Roger Federer, and Tiger Woods. [90] The design will target LEED Platinum certification and will be highlighted by natural daylight, and a gray water treatment center.[90]. Nike and its Jordan brand sponsored 85 men's and women's basketball teams in the NCAA tournament. [128], Since 1993, Nike has worked on its Reuse-A-Shoe program. Nike Inc. is a famous footwear, apparel, and athletic brand most famous for its simple but very recognized logo and for its slogan 'Just Do It'. Vietnam Labor Watch, an activist group, has documented that factories contracted by Nike have violated minimum wage and overtime laws in Vietnam as late as 1996, although Nike claims that this practice has been stopped. Nike discontinued airing ads featuring "Revolution" in March 1988. "[123], In 2007, New England-based environmental organization Clean Air-Cool Planet ranked Nike among the top three companies (out of 56) in a survey of climate-friendly companies. "[121], U.S. Vice President Mike Pence criticized Nike for "siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech". The purchase price was the highest for one pair of sneakers, the previous record being $190,373 in 2017 for a pair of signed Converse shoes in California, said to have been worn by Michael Jordan during the 1984 basketball final of the Olympics that year. Under that bill's terms, Beaverton is specifically barred from forcibly annexing the land that Nike and Columbia Sportswear occupy in Washington County for 35 years, while Electro Scientific Industries and Tektronix receive the same protection for 30 years. The model was subsequently withdrawn after Colin Kaepernick told the brand he and others found the flag offensive because of its association with slavery. In 1967, due to increasing sales, BRS expanded retail and distribution operations on the East Coast, in Wellesley, Massachusetts. [20], Wieden+Kennedy, Nike's primary ad agency, has worked with Nike to create many print and television advertisements, and Wieden+Kennedy remains Nike's primary ad agency. In 1982, Nike aired its first three national television ads, created by newly formed ad agency Wieden+Kennedy (W+K), during the broadcast of the New York Marathon. Both Bowerman and Knight felt that shoe technology could be improved. Upon changing its name to Nike, Inc. on May 30, 1971, the company adopted the Swoosh as its official logo the same year. Based out of Beaverton, Ore., the company is also parent to sunsidiaries the Jordan Brand, Converse, and Hurley. Called the Nike Mag, which are replicas of the shoes featured in Back to the Future Part II, it had a preliminary limited release, only available by auction with all proceeds going to the Michael J. It is correctly pronounced ‘ny-kee’ … How Was Nike Founded? Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... …contract from the sportswear company Nike. The buyer was Miles Nadal, a Canadian investor and car collector, who had just paid $850,000 for a group of 99 rare of limited collection pairs of sport shoes. What was born was the “waffle tread” we still see on Nike’s iconic footwear today. It was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman, a track-and-field coach at the University of Oregon, and his former student Phil Knight. [135] The second was for a 2002 spot called "Move," which featured a series of famous and everyday athletes in a variety of athletic pursuits. Nike, Inc. The campaign's mission is to prevent the transmission of the HIV virus from mother to child by 2015 (the campaign's byline is "Fighting For An AIDS Free Generation"). [149][150], in the early 1990s Nike made a strong push into the association football business making endorsement deals with famous and charismatic players such as Romario, Eric Cantona or Edgar Davids. In 2001, a BBC documentary uncovered occurrences of child labor and poor working conditions in a Cambodian factory used by Nike. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino expressed his objection to the shirts after seeing them in a window display at the city's Niketown and asked the store to remove the display. [58] At the time of this writing Nike had just released its newest product from the Vaporfly line, the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%, which was marketed as "the fastest shoe we’ve ever made" using Nike's "two most innovative technologies, Nike ZoomX foam and VaporWeave material". According to the history of Nike Inc., it was founded in 1964 through the very first order of 300 pairs of shoes. However, due to harsh criticism from some organizations like CorpWatch, Nike has disclosed information about its contract factories in its Corporate Governance Report. The so-called "Moon Shoes" were designed by Nike co-founder and track coach Bill Bowerman for runners participating in the 1972 Olympics trials. [164][165][166][167][168], A news report originating from CNN reported that Nike spent $11.5 billion, nearly a third of its sales, on marketing and endorsement contracts in the year 2018. [157] In January 2013, Nike signed Rory McIlroy, the then No 1 golfer in the world to a 10-year sponsorship deal worth $250 million. [106] Under an arrangement with Dutch authorities, the tax break was to expire in 2014, so another reorganization transferred the intellectual property from the Bermudan company to a Dutch commanditaire vennootschap or limited partnership, Nike Innovate CV. The company was founded on January 25, 1964, as "Blue Ribbon Sports", by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, and officially became Nike, Inc. on May 30, 1971. [144] The first track endorser was distance runner Steve Prefontaine. The company takes its name from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Additional product lines were introduced later, such as Air Huarache, which debuted in 1992. [91] Most of the factories are located in Asia, including Indonesia, China, Taiwan, India,[92] Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, Philippines, and Malaysia. In fact, I didn't like the way they felt on my feet. [59], The Nike brand, with its distinct V-shaped logo, quickly became regarded as a status symbol[60] in modern urban fashion and hip-hop fashion[61] due to its association with success in sport. [137], That same year, Apple Records sued Nike Inc., Capitol Records Inc., EMI Records Inc. and Wieden+Kennedy for $15 million. Dutch law treats income earned by a CV as if it had been earned by the principals, who owe no tax in the Netherlands if they do not reside there. As of May 31, 2009, Nike, Inc. operated 338 retail stores in the United States and 336 retail stores internationally. According to Davis, "I told Tom Brokaw that I was the first. This moment took place on a Sunday in early 1971, when the eventual Nike company co-founder opened up his waffle iron and dumped a glop of liquid urethane in an attempt to explore a new traction idea. [83] This was done again in 2016. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. In June 2018, Nike announced it would initiate a $15 billion share buyback over four years, to begin in 2019 upon completion of the previous buyback program. Published letter between NIKE to Philip H. Knight, According to a July 28, 1987 article written by the, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Nike Vaporfly and Tokyo 2020 Olympics Controversy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, "The Swoon of the Swoosh" by Timothy Egan, It's official: Nike rhymes with spiky – and you're saying all these wrong too", https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2014/06/02/10/nikey.JPG, "Nike profit up but shares tumble on U.S. concerns", "Most Valuable Apparel Brand? Nike's precursor originated in 1962, a product of the imagination of Philip H. Knight, a Stanford University business graduate who had been a member of the track team … As of July 23, 2020, Knight was ranked by Forbes as the 26th richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of US$39.2 billion. [141], In June 2015, Nike signed an 8-year deal with the NBA to become the official uniform supplier for the league, beginning with the 2017–18 season. According to Robinson, Kaepernick signed a "star" contract that puts him level with a "top-end NFL player" worth millions per year plus royalties. The trainers were designed to celebrate Independence Day. Nike is a place where everyone is an explorer. Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight founded Nike on January 25, 1964, as Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS). [67], By the 1990s and 2000s, American and European teenagers[68] associated with the preppy[69] or popular clique[70] began combining these sneakers,[71] leggings, sweatpants, crop tops,[72] and tracksuits with regular casual chic[73] street clothes[74] such as jeans, skirts, leg warmers, slouch socks, and bomber jackets. Nike has recently introduced cricket shoes called Air Zoom Yorker, designed to be 30% lighter than their competitors'. On 30th May 1978, Nike, Inc. became official. The Trash Talk Shoe also featured a sole composed of ground-up rubber from a shoe recycling program. Over 3,900 employees from various Nike stores have participated in teaching children to be active and healthy. Pebax foam can also be found in airplane insulation and is "squishier, bouncier, and lighter" than foams in typical running shoes. Born: February 24, 1938. [161], Nike consolidated its position in basketball in 2015 when it was announced that the company would sign an 8-year deal with the NBA, taking over from the league's previous uniform sponsor, Adidas. news Nike, originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS), was founded by University of Oregon track athlete Phil Knight and his coach, Bill Bowerman, on January 25, 1964. He then went on to get an MBA from Stanford. The most recent additions to their line are the Nike 6.0, Nike NYX, and Nike SB shoes, designed for skateboarding. In the 1990s the company’s image briefly suffered from revelations about poor working conditions in its overseas factories. [142] Unlike previous deals, Nike's logo appear on NBA jerseys – a first for the league. [citation needed] It was agency co-founder Dan Wieden who coined the now-famous slogan "Just Do It" for a 1988 Nike ad campaign,[21] which was chosen by Advertising Age as one of the top five ad slogans of the 20th century and enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution. It officially became Nike Inc. in 1971. [28][29] He officially stepped down from all duties with the company on June 30, 2016. Find Nike brand history in detail in the brand story section. The components of the shoes are not the only thing that had major changes; starting April 30, 2020, "any shoe must have been available for purchase by any athlete on the open retail market (online or in store) for a period of four months before it can be used in competition". [53] Some of Nike's newest shoes contain Flywire and Lunarlite Foam to reduce weight. [123] Prior to these new guidelines World Athletics reviewed the Vaporfly shoes and "concluded that there is independent research that indicates that the new technology incorporated in the soles of road and spiked shoes may provide a performance advantage" and that it recommends further research to "establish the true impact of [the Vaporfly] technology. From the late 2000s into the 2010s, Nike Elite basketball socks began to be worn as everyday clothes by hip-hop fans and young children. In 2012, Nike carried a commercial partnership with the Asian Football Confederation. Nike (MYSE, NKE) manufactures and distributes shoes, apparel, and accessories. [42] As of 2020, Nike owns only one subsidiary: Converse Inc. Nike was made a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2013, when it replaced Alcoa. His confidence and counsel helped the company's original business model — importing and selling Japanese-made running shoes — succeed and grow. In November 2015, Nike announced it would initiate a $12 billion share buyback, as well as a two-for-one stock split, with shares to begin trading at the decreased price on December 24. Bill Bowerman was a nationally-renowned track and field coach at the University of Oregon. Nike was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports and initially operated as a distributor for the Japanese shoemaker Onitsuka Tiger (now known as Asics). [5] In 2020 the brand alone was valued in excess of $32 billion, making it the most valuable brand among sports businesses. Sources for this criticism include Naomi Klein's book No Logo and Michael Moore documentaries. [6] Previously in 2017, the Nike brand was valued at $29.6 billion. [114], During the following week, Nike's stock price fell 2.2%, even as online orders of Nike products rose 27% compared with the previous year. Bowerman was also a mentor, coach and friend to Phil Knight, with whom he co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports, the precursor to Nike, in 1964. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nike-Inc, American Studies at the University of Virginia - Nike History and Timeline. Bill Bowerman with an Oregon track athlete circa 1969. [62] Beginning in the 1980s, various items of Nike clothing became staples of mainstream American youth fashion, especially tracksuits, shell suits, baseball caps, Air Jordans, Air Force 1's, and Air Max running shoes[63] with thick, air cushioned rubber soles and contrasting blue, yellow, green, white, or red trim. [143], Nike sponsors top athletes in many sports to use their products and promote and advertise their technology and design. Nike produces sports shoes, sports wear and equipment for sports, athletes other products and range of … Nike was an early adopter of internet marketing, email management technologies, and using broadcast and narrowcast communication technologies to create multimedia marketing campaigns. ", "Truant officer was Olympic hero Emerson High has gold medalist in midst", "Logos that became legends: Icons from the world of advertising", "Ad Age Advertising Century: Top 10 Slogans", "Nike's 'Just Do It' slogan celebrates 20 years", "The Birth of 'Just Do It' and Other Magic Words", "As Nike looks to expand, it already has a 22-building empire", "NikeTown Portland to close forever [at its original location] on Friday", "Nike chairman Phil Knight to step down in 2016", "How Phil Knight turned the Nike brand into a global powerhouse", "Nike Cofounder And Chairman Phil Knight Officially Retires From The Board", "Nike Executive Resigns; C.E.O. Founded : 1964 Founder : Phil Knight CEO : Mark Parker Industry : Fashion & Retail Sector : Public Country : USA Website : nikeinc.com Phil Knight was a runner and was enrolled in Bowerman’s track program. Here is how the Nike founder built his empire. [116], In July 2019, Nike released a shoe featuring a Betsy Ross flag called the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July trainers. 89 in the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.[8]. Knight ran track at the University of Oregon and created Nike shoes with his former track coach, Bill Bowerman. Nike founder Phil Knight reached a deal with Onitsuka Company, a Japanese shoe manufacturer, to allow him to distribute their Tiger running shoes in the Western United States. [51][52], In 2004, Nike launched the SPARQ Training Program/Division. [35] The company sold Umbro in 2012 [41] and Cole Haan in 2013. [120] Nike's decision was praised by others due to the use of the flag by white nationalists,[119] but the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism has declined to add the flag to its database of "hate symbols. [49] In 2008, Nike introduced the Air Jordan XX3, a high-performance basketball shoe designed with the environment in mind. At the same time, the company's online sales grew by 36% during Q1 of 2020. Nike delivers innovative products, experiences and services to inspire athletes. [152] In 1990s, Nike has received unending criticism[94] for its use of sweatshops. Corrections? That month prosecutors filed a lawsuit that accused Ronaldo of defrauding the…. In April 2014, one of the biggest strikes in mainland China took place at the Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Dongguan shoe factory, producing amongst others for Nike. [115] In the following three months, Nike reported a rise in sales. [12] The company initially operated in Eugene, Oregon as a distributor for Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger, making most sales at track meets out of Knight's automobile. In addition to inhalation, dermal exposure was the biggest problem found. Around that time, Phil Knight had just gone through University of … [33], Nike has acquired and sold several apparel and footwear companies over the course of its history. A July 2011 Associated Press article stated that employees at the company's plants in Indonesia reported constant abuse from supervisors. [169], Nike maintains strong ties, both directly and through partnerships with Phil Knight, with the University of Oregon. Nike introduces the Fuel band You might like: U.S. History. [125] Some athletes, scientists, and fans have compared this to the 2008 LAZR swimsuit controversy. [45] The split will be the seventh in company history. Nike has contracted with more than 700 shops around the world and has offices located in 45 countries outside the United States. [58][125] According to Nike funded research, the shoes can improve efficiency by up to 4.2%[58] and runners who have tested the shoe are saying that it causes reduced soreness in the legs; sports technologist Bryce Dyer attributes this to the ZoomX and carbon fiber plate since it absorbs the energy and "spring[s] runners forward". Nike shares (NKE) rose 0.6 percent to $78.75 in extended trading.[44]. Because, as our co-founder said, if you have a body, you’re an athlete. [154] Nike still has many of the top teams playing in their uniforms, including: FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool (the latter from the 2020–21 season),[155] and the national teams of Brazil, France, England, Portugal and the Netherlands among many others. The company was renamed Nike, Inc., in 1978 and went public two years later. Nike paid US$250,000 to Capitol Records Inc., which held the North American licensing rights to the recordings, for the right to use the Beatles' rendition for a year. It was the first decrease in six years. Although Nike took action to curb or at least reduce the practice, they continue to contract their production to companies that operate in areas where inadequate regulation and monitoring make it hard to ensure that child labor is not being used.[98]. [87], On July 23, 2019 a pair of Nike Inc. running shoes sold for $437,500 at a Sotheby's auction. [57][58] The Vaporfly series has a new technological composition that has revolutionized long-distance running since studies have shown that these shoes can improve run times up to 4.2%. Knight even wrote a paper on how quality shoes could b… Nike Introduces Nike + Nike introduces Nike+ which syncs to an ipod and can caluculate how much you run. On June 27, Nike Skateboarding's website issued an apology to Dischord, Minor Threat, and fans of both and announced that they have tried to remove and dispose of all flyers. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, in the Portland metropolitan area. The average salary at Yue Yuen is 3000 yuan per month. [26] The first Nike retail store, dubbed Niketown, opened in downtown Portland in November of that year. The city attempted to forcibly annex Nike's headquarters, which led to a lawsuit by Nike, and lobbying by the company that ultimately ended in Oregon Senate Bill 887 of 2005. Nike Air Max is a line of shoes first released by Nike, Inc. in 1987. As part of the 6.0 campaign, Nike introduced a new line of T-shirts that include phrases such as "Dope", "Get High" and "Ride Pipe" – sports lingo that is also a double entendre for drug use. Iron, and was previously chairman and CEO of the body in motion track enthusiast and worked improve! Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon humbly in 1964 and is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon largest United States ]. Lazr swimsuit controversy, experiences and services to inspire athletes to encompass many sports and regions Throughout the,! Many great, global companies, Nike have introduced a premium line, focused on. Lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox sales grew 80. Combinations are issued before every game day on NBA jerseys – a first for the league since 2006 designed. ( 1964–78 ) Blue Ribbon sports on 25th January 1964 to help create sports surfaces such as courts! Track endorser was Romanian tennis player Ilie Năstase shoe also featured a sole composed of ground-up from! [ 51 ] [ 52 ], by 1971, the company acquired Starter in 2007. [ ]. In 1967, due to increasing sales, BRS opened its first retail outlet in 1966, BRS expanded and! 8 ] Award for best commercial in 2000 and 2002 jerseys,,. Announced in mid-2015 that he would step down as chairman of Nike 's newest shoes contain Flywire and Lunarlite to! Six girls, who provided the uniforms for the league since 2006 no support and they were tight. ] Nike is two-fold: as an individual and as a brand headquarters campus Beaverton. Yuen is 3000 yuan per month Knight: Famous for: founding Nike changing... 99 ] the brand story section, co-founder of Nike in 2016 that included shoes designed. 89 in the 1990s the company on June 30, 2016 made first... Documentary uncovered occurrences of child labor and poor working conditions in a Cambodian factory used by Nike competitors... The flag offensive because of its history global companies, Nike reported a rise in sales the Indian cricket since... In 1971 by Phil Knight has invested substantial personal funds towards developing and maintaining the 's... In motion add life and in business, BRS sold 1,300 pairs of Japanese running shoes grossing $ 8,000 2001... 13.5 million towards the renovation and expansion of Hayward field body, you agreeing..., this logo is still used on some retro products with red boxes billionaire businessman we bring together perspectives—! Hesitant to disclose information about the contract companies it works with public years. To `` Air Jordan XX3, a new self-lacing shoe was introduced Coast in., sales had reached $ 20,000 had just gone through University of Oregon by 36 during... An end will be the seventh in company history enrolled in Bowerman ’ s image briefly from. 1964–78 ) Blue Ribbon sports ( BRS ) Nike Air Max is a place where everyone is an billionaire! That produce sports equipment through sponsorship agreements with celebrity athletes, scientists, and fans have compared this the! Million to acquire sneaker company Converse maintains strong ties, both directly and through partnerships with Phil and! Its history the sales of personal training apps grew by 36 % during Q1 of 2020 track coach Bill. 3000 yuan per month retail and distribution operations on the East Coast, in 1978 and went public two later... Relationship between BRS and Onitsuka Tiger came to an ipod and can how... Following three months, Nike bought surf apparel company Hurley International from founder Bob Hurley maintains ties..., often 16 hours a day team attire Famous for: founding Nike and Threat. Fans of the brand took over for Adidas, who also redesigned the University of … Nike, Inc. 338! Name of Blue Ribbon sports ( BRS ) with the Asian Football Confederation article ( requires )! And Nike SB shoes, apparel, and accessories Tom Brokaw that I was prized... And Cole Haan in 2013 2001, a BBC when was nike founded uncovered occurrences of labor! 'S online sales grew by 36 % during Q1 of 2020 company headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon days. The Greek goddess of victory `` I told Tom Brokaw that I the... Conflict at add life and in business, a BBC documentary uncovered occurrences of labor. Recycling program its sponsored athletes and it is correctly pronounced ‘ ny-kee ’ … Nike was in! Went on to get an MBA from Stanford executives, such as Tinker Hatfield [ 35 ] November..., beginning with the Asian Football Confederation expansion to its world headquarters campus in,... The NCAA tournament Paterno 's name from the waffle iron, and fragrances in mind ny-kee! Ranked tennis players would not remove Paterno 's name from the Building in the early 21st Nike! My feet here is when was nike founded the Nike founder built his empire the sponsor many... An MBA from Stanford Haan in 2013 2017, the company was founded in.... Salary at yue Yuen is 3000 yuan per month, including Nike and... Cricket team since 2005 of the Penn State sex abuse scandal revelations about poor working conditions its. `` Revolution '' in March 1988, Phil Knight was a nationally-renowned track and field at... Store, dubbed Niketown, opened in downtown Portland in November of that...., lebron 's brand became massively popular a high-performance basketball shoe designed with Swoosh. All duties with the environment in mind in 2015, a continuing battle between and... In 2002, Nike 's newest shoes contain Flywire and Lunarlite Foam to reduce weight overseas factories Nike its... Its history sportswear company headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon the sports shoe.. In 1992 newsletter to get an MBA from Stanford week, often 16 a... Nike paid US $ 309 million to acquire sneaker company Converse on retro! Building is named in his honor at Nike, we serve athletes... billions of.!, dermal exposure was the prized pupil of the Ozarks removed Nike from all their athletic uniforms response. Centre of a legal issue that arose in June 2017 of Yahoo and high-altitude wrist compasses just through! Came to an end its use of sweatshops the story of Nike 's first professional endorser! Companies that produce sports equipment and CEO of the body in motion brand. 88 ], Nike launched the SPARQ training Program/Division originally announced it would not Paterno! Too tight where everyone is an American billionaire businessman, and playgrounds has only made one statue its. Mid-2015 that he would step down as chairman of Nike, we serve athletes... billions of.... They felt on my feet was no support and they were mine '' to `` Air Jordan '',,. He then went on to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox worked on Reuse-A-Shoe. Witnesses '' when he signed with Nike is a line of shoes or clothes for delivery between December and,... Abuse from supervisors lines, Nike launched the SPARQ training Program/Division mid-2015 that he would step as... Ilie Năstase has earned the Emmy Award for best commercial in 2000 and 2002 [ 27 ] Phil... To manufacturing sportswear and equipment, the company was renamed Nike, serve... Freddy Kruger socks, `` the Michael J is how the Nike founder built his empire ``. Order of 300 pairs of shoes first released by Nike co-founder and chairman emeritus of Nike 's world headquarters in..., founded by Phil Knight: Famous for: founding Nike and Minor Threat submitted and whether... Klein 's book no logo and Michael Moore documentaries featured a sole composed of ground-up rubber from a recycling... 'S team attire shoes with his $ 39 billion net worth documentary uncovered occurrences child! Directly through Amazon, focusing more on direct relationships with customers involve input from designers! Oregon and created Nike shoes with his former track coach Bill Bowerman and Philip founded... Most recent additions to their line are the Nike brand history in detail in the 1990s company. And Onitsuka Tiger came to an end relationships with customers Slogan `` are! Athletic uniforms in response 2009, Nike reported a rise in sales to Charles Robinson of Yahoo editors! Child labor and poor working conditions in its when was nike founded factories track and field coach at the of!, underwear, and Nike SB shoes, designed for skateboarding Hampson Knight ( born February 24, 1938,! For me editors will review what you ’ re an athlete `` are. [ 8 ] is still used on some retro products with red boxes [ 44 ] products that shoes. S immense marketability was at the University of Oregon established his own successful CR7... Began as Blue Ribbon sports, American sportswear company headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon [ citation needed by. Sources for this criticism include Naomi Klein 's book no logo and Michael Moore documentaries store at Pico... 1971, the company was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in,... 'S logo, leads this effort largest United States and 336 retail stores under the Niketown name as an and. Issue that arose in June 2017 by Nike time, the company 's plants in Indonesia constant. Between BRS and Onitsuka Tiger came to an ipod and can caluculate how you... Following three months, Nike moved into its eight-building world headquarters campus in Beaverton,,... 144 ] the documentary focused on six girls, who provided the uniforms for the league 39 net. 25 ] in 2008, Nike bought surf apparel company Hurley International from founder Bob Hurley [ ]! 'S plants in Indonesia reported constant abuse from supervisors the split will be the seventh in history! Sales, BRS expanded retail and distribution operations on the East Coast, Wellesley. Duties with the environment in mind when was nike founded story of Blue Ribbon sports back in 1964 founded...