NIKE

Sportswear giant, Nike, humbly began through Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight's passion for running; the two visionaries created Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964 as a distributor for Onitsuka Tiger running shoes. The company continued to grow, their first full-time employee Jeff Johnson was credited for the Nike name as they began to diverge from distribution towards design and manufacturing in 1971. By 1972 the famous "Swoosh" had been adopted by Nike as they introduced their new line of running shoes for the U.S. Track & Field Trials. The light-weight waffle iron inspired runners was a revolution in the industry. Nike continued their innovation with the creation of the now iconic Air technology in 1979 along with dominant marketing campaigns that included Michael Jordan in 1985. The company continues to equip athletes with functional and aesthetically pleasing footwear as they have established itself at the forefront of fashion; creating some of the most sought after footwear ever made.