The History of Nike Running Shoes

Bill Bowerman, a track and field coach at the University of Oregon, began creating custom shoes for his runners in the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1964, he co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports with one of his former runners, Phil Knight, and the two began importing Japanese running shoes. In 1965, after one of his runners suffered an injury, Bowerman began working directly with manufacturers, offering precise feedback on how to improve shoes, including the inclusion of a full-length midsole. (Bowerman ultimately earned a total of 8 patents for his running shoe innovations.) Eventually, Bowerman and Knight transitioned from selling Japanese shoes through Blue Ribbon Sports to selling shoes designed by Bowerman. They named their new company Nike after the Greek goddess of victory. In 1970, Bowerman used his wife’s waffle maker to create a prototype for what would become one of his most famous innovations, the waffle sole shoe. Also known as the Moon Shoe, it was officially sold under the name Waffle Trainer in 1974. Immensely popular with professional athletes and everyday runners alike, it made Nike famous. Since then, the brand has continued to manufacture running shoes as well as other athletic apparel. The company also created one of the most successful celebrity-endorsed brands of all time with Michael Jordan’s Air Jordans. Today, Nike is one of the most recognizable brands of running shoes and athletic gear in the world.