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Nike Cortez History: How the Shoe Conquered the Footwear World

Lifestyle

Nike Cortez History: How the Shoe Conquered the Footwear World

Oct 11, 2023

Before there were Air Sole units, decades before there was Flyknit material, and before the Nike name even existed, there was the Nike Cortez. It’s hard to believe it’s been more than 50 years since the Cortez sprinted onto the scene. 

Let’s take a look at the timeline and history of this generation-spanning sneaker.

The Timeline of the Nike Cortez 

1964:

Japanese shoe brand Onitsuka Tiger wanted to break into the U.S. sneaker market, so it reached out to the founders of a company called Blue Ribbon Sports to distribute its track shoes. Blue Ribbon Sports operated out of Eugene, Oregon, and was headed by a track and field coach and a middle-distance runner. Their names? Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight.

1967:

Onitsuka sent over a new shoe prototype to Blue Ribbon Sports. Tasked with naming the sneaker, Bowerman and Knight went through a list of names, but none of them was quite right. Bowerman suggested “The Aztec,” a nod to the Mexico City location of the 1968 Olympic Games. The problem was adidas already had an Aztec Gold track shoe. So back to the drawing board it was.
Who conquered the Aztecs? That was a question the founders mused. The answer: Conquistador Hernán Cortés. And so the Nike Cortez was born, along with a warning shot to adidas that Blue Ribbon Sports was coming for the sports sneaker market.
There was a bit of back and forth and some lawsuits between Blue Ribbon Sports vs. Onitsuka Tiger, but again, Nike prevailed and got the rights to the Cortez.

1971:

Blue Ribbon Sports rebrands to the Nike name after the winged Greek goddess of victory.

1972:

The Summer Olympics are held in Germany, and the Nike Cortez shoes are released. They sell like hotcakes, positioning Nike on the path to victory. The shoes were so popular, in fact, that Nike had a hard time meeting the demand.

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1980s:

“Swap meets, car clubs and schoolyards” were all populated with Nike Cortez shoes in the L.A. area. They were an affordable option that even working-class populations could wear with pride. Rival gangs began wearing the shoes on the streets, too, rappers like Eazy-E further popularized them, and the Latino community adopted them as well.

1990s and 2000s:

“White tees and Nike Cortez.” That’s a line from a 2013 Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar song, but the shoes have experienced decades-long staying power in the pop culture realm. Whitney Houston wore them while belting out the National Anthem in 1991’s Super Bowl. Forrest Gump logged miles throughout the country in a pair. Lil Wayne, Bella Hadid, Zoe Kravitz and other celebs regularly get snapped by the paparazzi wearing these easy-to-wear sneakers.

2022:

The Nike Cortez turns 50!

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2023s:

We still love these ageless sneakers, in part for their retro running-shoe feel but also because you can snag a pair for less than $100. They've got that comfy low-cut padded collar and wedge EVA foam midsole so you can wear them day in and day out. Shop a “Midnight Navy/Sail/Noise Aqua” men’s shoe, go with a white and black kids’ version, or add a punch of “Red Stardust" with a pair of women’s Cortez kicks.

With more than 75 years in the sneaker and sports retail industries, Hibbett | City Gear is your go-to for apparel, shoes, gear and expert advice. Check out our Unboxed Blog to learn more about your favorite sneaker silhouettes and the stories behind them, from Iverson’s Reebok shoes and Air Jordans to Nike Dunks.

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