- Nike was initially named Blue Ribbon Sports when it was founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman.
- Nike’s iconic “swoosh” logo was designed by Carolyn Davidson in 1971. She was paid $35 for her work.
- The brand name Nike is derived from the Greek goddess of victory, Nike.
- The popular Nike slogan, “Just Do It,” was inspired by the final words of Gary Gilmore, a murderer on death row: “Let’s do it.”
- The Nike Air technology was introduced in 1979, providing a cushion of air in the soles of the shoes for comfort and shock absorption.
- Nike Air Jordans, the famous basketball shoes, were named after basketball legend Michael Jordan.
- Adidas and Puma were both founded by two brothers, Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, who had a bitter rivalry.
- Adidas is a portmanteau of the founder’s name, Adi (a nickname for Adolf) and Das (from Dassler).
- The three stripes logo of Adidas was bought from a Finnish sportswear brand, Karhu, for the equivalent of 1600 euros and two bottles of whiskey.
- Puma’s logo, a leaping puma, symbolizes the agility and power that the brand associates with its products.
- The first screw-in soccer cleats were introduced by Puma.
- Adidas’ Stan Smith shoe was originally named for French tennis player Robert Haillet. After Haillet retired, the company approached Stan Smith, and the rest is history.
- The popular Adidas shoe model, the Superstar, often referred to as ‘shelltoes’, was first introduced in 1969.
- Converse, well known for their All Star shoes, was founded in 1908.
- The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star design is named after Charles H. Taylor, a basketball player who became a shoe salesman and advocated for the shoe design.
- The rubber toe cap on the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star design was intended to prevent toes from getting wet.
- Converse was bought by Nike in 2003.
- Reebok, founded in 1958, was named after a type of African antelope.
- Reebok’s InstaPump Fury shoes, introduced in the 90s, featured a unique pump system to inflate the shoes for a custom fit.
- New Balance started as an arch support company in the early 1900s and transitioned to designing shoes in the 1960s.
- New Balance is known for numbering their shoes instead of naming them as part of their “no-nonsense” approach.
- New Balance is one of the few major shoe companies that still manufactures a portion of their shoes in the United States.
- ASICS is an acronym derived from the Latin phrase “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano” which means “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body”.
- The ASICS Gel technology provides shock absorption and cushioning in their running shoes.
- Under Armour, initially known for athletic apparel, launched their first running shoe line in 2009.
- Under Armour’s logo, consisting of two overlapping ‘U’s, represents the brand’s name.
- The “UA HOVR” shoe technology was developed by Under Armour to provide a ‘zero gravity feel’, offering great energy return for runners.
- Vans, famous for its skateboarding shoes, was founded in 1966.
- The iconic Vans Checkerboard Slip-On was released in 1977 and was made famous by the movie ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’.
- Vans’ waffle soles were the result of a failed experiment while trying to cut a new mold.
- Salomon, well-known for trail running shoes, originally started as a saw blade and ski edges manufacturing company.
- The Salomon Speedcross model is one of the most popular choices for trail runners worldwide.
- Mizuno, a Japanese sports brand, was initially established as a sundries shop selling Western goods, including baseballs.
- The Mizuno Wave technology, inspired by nature, provides cushioning and stability in their running shoes.
- Brooks Sports, simply known as Brooks, has been creating running shoes since 1914.
- Brooks’ Adrenaline GTS shoe is one of the best-selling running shoes in the world.
- The ‘GTS’ in Adrenaline GTS stands for ‘Go-To Shoe’.
- Saucony’s logo represents the Sacony Creek, the brand’s namesake, which flows past the original factory in Pennsylvania.
- HOKA ONE ONE, famous for its maximalist running shoes, was founded by two former Salomon employees.
- The name HOKA ONE ONE is derived from the Maori language phrase loosely meaning “fly over the earth”.
- Sketchers was founded in 1992 and initially specialized in utility-style boots and skate shoes.
- Fila, founded in Italy in 1911, began as an underwear manufacturing company.
- Fila Disruptor II, a chunky ‘dad shoe’ style sneaker, was one of the brand’s most popular models in recent years.
- PONY (Product of New York) was founded in 1972 and became popular in the 1980s among professional athletes.
- The PONY M-100 model was made famous by the basketball player Spud Webb who won the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest wearing them.
- Onitsuka Tiger, founded by Kihachiro Onitsuka, is one of the oldest shoe companies in Japan. It eventually became ASICS.
- The Onitsuka Tiger Corsair (now sold as the ASICS Tiger Corsair) was the basis for the first Nike shoe, the Cortez.
- Keds was founded in 1916 and is credited with creating the first mass-marketed canvas-top ‘sneaker’.
- Keds’ Champion sneaker, a simple, white canvas shoe, has been in production since 1916.
- Merrell, known for hiking footwear, was established in 1981 by two former employees of Rossignol, a ski company.
- Vibram, known for its FiveFingers ‘barefoot’ shoes, was originally an outsole manufacturing company.
- The five-toed design of the Vibram FiveFingers was inspired by the barefoot running trend.
- The Timberland Company, famous for its waterproof boots, was originally named the Abington Shoe Company.
- Timberland’s iconic yellow boots were introduced in 1973.
- The Timberland logo represents a tree to symbolize the outdoor lifestyle that the brand promotes.
- Crocs, known for its unique clogs, was originally intended to be a boating shoe.
- Despite controversy around their aesthetic, Crocs has sold over 300 million pairs of shoes.
- DC Shoes, popular in skateboarding, was founded by Ken Block and Damon Way in 1994.
- Ken Block, one of DC Shoes’ founders, is also famous for his Gymkhana racing videos.
- The Airwalk brand was established in 1986 and became a staple in the skateboarding community in the 90s.
- The Airwalk logo is stylized to represent both the ‘A’ of Airwalk and a jump ramp.
- Supra, another skate shoe brand, was founded by Angel Cabada, who also co-founded KR3W, a skateboarding apparel brand.
- The Supra Skytop, a high top skate shoe, became a fashion trend in the late 2000s.
- Etnies, a skateboarding shoe brand, was originally a French company and stands for “etnies European skate footwear”.
- Etnies planted a tree for every pair of shoes sold from their Jameson 2 Eco line.
- Globe, an Australian-based shoe brand, was founded by three skateboarding brothers in the 1980s.
- Globe’s biggest shoe hit was the ‘Chet Thomas IV’, known for its durability.
- Heelys are shoes with removable wheels, allowing the wearer to shift from walking to rolling.
- In 2000, Roger Adams invented Heelys for his own use before patenting them.
- Keen, known for its unique sandals, was founded in 2003 by Martin Keen.
- Keen’s Newport sandal, with its distinctive toe bumper, became popular for its protective design.
- Teva, an outdoor footwear brand, is known for inventing the sports sandal.
- The name Teva means ‘nature’ in Hebrew.
- The Teva Original Universal Sandal was inspired by river guide footwear.
- Altra, a running shoe brand, is known for its “FootShape” toe box and “Zero Drop” design.
- The Altra founders started by modifying existing shoes in a toaster oven.
- Birkenstock, a German shoe manufacturer, is known for its contoured cork footbeds.
- The Birkenstock family has been in the shoe business since the 18th century.
- Birkenstock’s ‘Arizona’ style, a two-strap sandal, is one of the brand’s most popular designs.
- Salomon’s ‘Speedcross’ is one of the most popular trail running shoes, known for its distinctive chevron lug pattern.
- Hoka One One’s oversized midsoles were initially scoffed at, but have since become a popular running shoe trend.
- Columbia Sportswear, while known for outdoor clothing, also produces hiking footwear.
- The Columbia Newton Ridge is a popular, affordable hiking boot model.
- The La Sportiva brand is a go-to choice for many mountain climbers and trail runners.
- La Sportiva’s ‘Bushido’ is a popular shoe among trail runners for its grip and stability.
- Lotto, an Italian sports brand, started as a tennis shoe manufacturer but now makes footwear for a variety of sports.
- British Knights was a popular brand in the 80s and 90s, with the BK Dymacel technology.
- Prince Sports, well known for tennis rackets, also produced tennis shoes.
- Prince’s T22 model is a popular choice for tennis players for its durability and comfort.
- Diadora, an Italian sportswear company, produced popular football boots worn by the likes of Roberto Baggio and Giuseppe Signori.
- Dr. Martens, while not a sports shoe brand, has been adopted by various subcultures for its unique style.
- Dr. Martens’ air-cushioned sole was invented by Dr. Klaus Maertens, a German Army doctor.
- Inov-8 is a British company that specializes in trail running, hiking, and fitness shoes.
- Inov-8’s shoes are known for their minimal and lightweight design.
- Clarks, known for casual footwear, introduced the Wallabee, a moccasin-inspired shoe that has become an icon in streetwear.
- Clarks’ Trigenic Flex, a modern reinterpretation of the moccasin, is designed to follow the foot’s natural movement.
- Topo Athletic, a running shoe company, was founded by Tony Post, a former CEO of Vibram.
- Topo Athletic’s shoes are known for their roomy toe box and lightweight design.
- Newton Running is known for its shoes with prominent lugs in the forefoot, promoting a forefoot strike.
- The Newton Running shoe design was inspired by observing that barefoot running naturally encourages a forefoot strike.
Originally posted 2023-09-21 19:54:08.
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