Nike was founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman under the name Blue Ribbon Sports. Initially, the company sold Japanese running shoes from Onitsuka Tiger (now ASICS). In 1971, the brand was renamed Nike, inspired by the Greek goddess of victory, and introduced the iconic Swoosh logo.

Nike gained early attention through innovation, especially Bowerman’s waffle sole, which improved athletic performance. During the 1980s, Nike expanded globally and revolutionized sports marketing by partnering with top athletes—most notably Michael Jordan, whose Air Jordan line launched in 1984 and became a cultural phenomenon.

Today, Nike is the world’s leading sportswear brand, known for blending performance innovation, bold marketing, and lifestyle culture, with its famous slogan “Just Do It.”