Nike

A brand with legacy

Over the past few decades, there is not a single brand in the sportswear arena that has come close to what Nike is. Founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight in 1964, originally called Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS) as a supplier of shoes from the Japanese brand Onitsuka Tiger. In 1971 their partnership ended and BRS was rebranded as Nike. It has come to be one of the most recognisable brands with 'The Swoosh', today the brand only uses that as their logo without the word Nike. The Swoosh was designed by Carolyn Davidson, based on the Goddess of Victory Nike's wing. Since its creation, Nike has grown into one of the best brands in the sports business. With multiple shoe lines and apparel for all kinds of sports. Sponsoring some of the most knows athletes of our time including legends such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. Nike is not just a sports brand, they are a brand that is synonyms with 'cool'; their tag line 'Just Do It' coined by ad-man Dan Wieden has achieved the level of being a cultural reference. The brand is a standpoint of the Hip-Hop street style, with Jordans being one of thee quintessential 'kicks'. 

The various products

Nike produces one of the most comprehensive ranges of sporting goods coming from one brand. With items for individual sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, golf and more. The workout section has a variety of gloves, resistance bands, skipping ropes, headbands, sports bottles, joint braces and a lot more. The clothes range from comfortable yoga wear to the uniforms worn by NBA athletes. They also do various bags that can be used for carrying training equipment and a change of clothes. Nike also makes sports-bras, shorts, swimwear, underwear and some of the most comfortable socks available anywhere. Due to being the sponsor for so many professional teams across the sports world, Nike also produces a host of original fan merchandise.

Materials leader

The materials are all cutting edge, Nike has a lab that researches new material to be used in their products. The colour range is also well thought out and vibrant, with the opposite also available which are more sleek sombre colours. The clothes not only look good but the fit and feel are usually just right. Wearing Nike to play is another layer of helping prepare an athlete; the comfort and performance levels are unmatched.

Design

Nike has always had design that was ahead of whatever the current market thinks it needs. To date, they are producing greatly stylised shoes and clothes. All the items produced by them have a top-notch graphic quality. The graphics and art are usually at par with the sleek form factor, which is also a big reason for them being a hit with street style. 

Some more about Nike

Nike is also known for having put out some of the best ads in the history of advertising, winning awards at The Cannes Advertising Festival. Clean Air-Cool Planet in 2007 ranked them among the top 3 eco-friendly organisations out of 56. In 2016 Nike continued to support via sponsorship Colin Kaepernick, who was mired in controversy at the NFL after a kneeling protest while the Star Spangled Banner played. His act was a statement against the oppression of the African-American community in the USA. Nike currently owns the famous sneaker brand Converse and the surf equipment brand Hurley International. Air Jordan, although owned by Nike is considered a separate entity as well.

A high-end brand, Nike prices are generally also at the top end. The quality is near peak possible level in the industry, which makes the prices worth it. Nike has stores across Pakistan, in most major cities. Pakistan is also one of the many countries Nike has production concerns with.