30 Interesting Facts about Nike that will Surely Amaze you

Nike is one of the most well-known suppliers of sports clothes and footwear in the world, yet the ordinary individual knows very little about the firm. In this post, we have compiled a list of 30 Interesting Facts about Nike.

The notion of sports shoes was not as well-known in the 1990s as it is now. They were clumsy and hulky (metaphorically as hefty as the Hulk), and they frequently caused athletes to bleed. Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS) was founded in 1964 by two guys who wanted to revolutionize the way people thought about sports shoes. After a vision (possibly a dream), BRS evolved into Nike, which still stops every sneakerhead’s shelf.

Let’s dive into the list of 30 Interesting Facts about Nike-

Facts about Nike from 1 – 15: 

1. Nike controls almost two-thirds of the US footwear business, from footwear to clothing (62 percent of the world athletic market).
2. The firm was known as ‘Blue Ribbons’ for a long time before it was known as Nike.
3. Nike was created on January 25, 1964, by Phillip Knight, a track athlete at the University of Oregon, and his coach, Bill Bowerman.
4. Nike started off as a wholesaler for Onitsuka Tiger, a Japanese shoemaker, before becoming Nike Inc. in 1971.
5. Nike began as a concept for a college paper. While writing a college assignment, Phil Knight had the idea to establish a sneaker firm.
6. Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman’s original suggestion for a name was not ‘Nike.’ The name ‘Dimension 6’ was virtually finalized.
7. Jeff Johnson proposed the Nike concept and moniker, which was based on the Greek goddess of victory.
8. It’s crucial that you pronounce the brand name correctly! Nike’s name is pronounced ny-kee. It has nothing in common with the words bike or like.
9. Utah felon Gary Gilmore originated the renowned ‘Just Do It’ tagline in the 1970s, which has a deadly past. After perpetrating two murders, Gary was condemned to death. “Let’s do it,” he urged in his closing seconds.
10. When Nike engaged an advertising firm to assist them promote the sneakers, Gary’s final comments served as inspiration. In a 1988 television commercial, the phrase was renamed ‘Just Do It’ for Nike’s new motto.
11. Carolyn Davidson, a Portland State University student, created the legendary swoosh’ for $35!

    12. When Knight believed that ‘Blue Ribbon’ required a better brand identification, Davidson agreed to work on some prospective designs.              Even though Knight “didn’t love it,” the corporation decided on the logo in the end.

13. When developing Nike’s emblem, she really sketched the Swoosh from the Adidas logo.
14. To honor the attitude of perseverance in the face of tremendous hurdles, Davidson changed the angles of the Adidas emblem into a bigger, thicker, and continuous symbol.
15. As a sign of thanks, Nike’s co-founder gave Davidson the Swoosh logo etched in a golden frame.

Facts about Nike from 16 – 30:

16. In 1987, one of Nike’s Air Max shoe advertisements used the song “Revolution.” The Beatles filed a $15 million lawsuit against them, claiming that they don’t “peddle footwear or pantyhose.” Nike protested and continued to run the advertisement after specific discussions, allowing the campaign to die out in 1988. (Did you know this interesting Nike fact?)
17. Knight encouraged staff screaming contests and seemed to enjoy it when they got into sports arguments. Knight stated the company wasn’t as much fun as it used to be by 1995, when people started leaving older mindsets.

   18. Tennis star IIlie Nastase was the first professional athlete to promote Nike after signing a deal in 1972, long before Nike became a                     favorite  of athletes.

   19. Michael Jordan was adamant about not meeting with Nike. His parents persuaded him to follow his agent’s suggestion after he declined           his agent’s request to meet with the corporation. In 1984, he traveled to Nike’s headquarters and sealed the deal.

20. Despite the fact that Jordan popularized the Air Jordan 1, when he first saw the sneakers, he despised the colors red and black.
21. Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal went to meet with Nike executives dressed entirely in Reebok attire since he didn’t want to sign any contracts with Nike.

    22. Bam Margera, a skateboarder and TV personality, was formerly sponsored by Nike to wear their shoes. Margera, on the other hand,                  didn’t enjoy wearing Nike’s products and instead donned other brands’ shoes with the Nike emblem slapped on top.

23. Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe initiative recycles shoes’ basic materials to make playground surfaces, track flooring, and gym floor tiles.
24. Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe initiative gathers used Nike shoes from customers and recycles them into Nike Grind, a new substance.
25. Nike has a patent for a sneaker with a built-in communication device. It was one of the first athletic and apparel firms to adopt smart clothes in the world.
26. Nike’s advertisements ‘The Morning After’ in 2000 and ‘Move’ in 2002 each earned two Emmy honors.
27. Nike has a long-standing connection with the University of Oregon, under which it continues to design and produce the collegiate football team’s gear and sportswear.
28. Nike has provided millions of dollars over the years to help the University of Oregon construct and maintain track & field facilities.
29. Nike sells an average of 25 pairs of sneakers per second—$1000 that’s per second, $66,000 per minute, and $700,000,000 each week!
30. Nike’s initial shoe was a soccer cleat, rather than a sneaker. Later on, the company shifted its attention to running shoes.

Nike is a well-known brand that is mainly recognised for its footwear. They’ve been the driving force behind sneaker culture since the 1940s. Nike is recognised for its high-quality, stylish, and flawless items. Some of the Most Interesting Facts about Nike are mentioned above. Let us know your thoughts on the products of Nike in the comment section below.

Also Checkout: 15 Interesting Facts about Adidas every Sneakerhead should know