The story of Nike is one of loyalty, honesty, and victory. First established all the way back in May 1st, 1972, the Beaverton-based brand celebrated its 50th anniversary over the weekend. One of the industry's most iconic labels, no other footwear company has a history quite like the Swoosh. From its beginnings as an Onitsuka Tiger distributor to subsequently being betrayed by them, the rise and fall of Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman's sportswear empire is a true legend.
As Nike celebrates hitting the half-century milestone, Knight took to Instagram to reminisce the exact moment that led to the beginning of the brand. "I remember thinking, ‘This is it – this is the moment. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Our moment. No more working for someone else. If we’re going to succeed or fail, we should do so on our own terms, with our own ideas, with our own brand. And just like that, Nike was born."
From working out of his parent's garage to having over 75,000 employees across the globe, along the way Nike have signed some of the sports industry's biggest names, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods. "We had a dream, our love of sports, a ton of ambition, a trunk full of running shoes, and a big Swoosh on all of them. The rest is history. Our history."
Here's to another 50 amazing years, Nike! While you're here, you might as well check out the brief history of Nike over here!
