The most dominant sneaker and sportswear brand in the world, Nike was originally founded in 1964 by University of Portland track coach Bill Bowerman and mid-distance runner Phil Knight under the name Blue Ribbon Sports. For its first seven years of operation, the business imported Onitsuka Tiger sneakers from Japan, until Bowerman decided in 1971 to make a prototype of his own running shoes by pouring rubber into his family’s waffle iron. The brand took the name Nike after the Greek Goddess of victory in 1971, the same year it introduced the swoosh logo designed by Portland State University graphic design student Carolyn Davidson. Collaborating with some of the greatest athletes across the world such as Simone Biles, LeBron James, Britney Griner, and many more, has cemented Nike as a leader in sports design and technology. In addition, with an ever-growing portfolio of notable designers including Virgil Abloh of Off-Whiteâ„¢, Chitose Abe of Sacai, and Matthew M. Williams, Nike has positioned itself as a true force in the fashion industry.Â