11 Nike Facts That’ll Surprise You

An absolutely huge brand, we’re proud to stock popular Nike boxing products to make your kit look great and help your performance in training. We’ve also gotten to know Nike pretty well over the years and want to share some of that knowledge.

So, take a quick break from hitting those bags to find out more about one of your fave heavyweight (not literally) brands!

1. $35 LOGO?

OK, hand’s up who loves the swoosh logo? Everyone? We thought so! That iconic Nike tick was designed way back in 1971 for just $35 by graphic design student Carolyn Davis. Since then she’s been paid back for how huge it became for the brand in stocks and not too shabbily, with a gold and diamond swoosh ring.

2. IT’S PRONOUNCED “NY’KEE”

Named after the Greek goddess of victory, the brand’s name is technically pronounced “ny’kee’, the same as her name. However, many people simply say ‘ny’k’ due to the spelling and you’ll get away with either. Everyone at the gym will know what you’re talking about!

3. IRRESISTIBLE GEAR FOR BOXERS

When boxing legend Floyd Mayweather was sponsored by Reebok, he was caught out shopping for Nike shoes and spent thousands in a shopping spree. He posted it online and Reebok were none too happy. He ended up walking away from Reebok so he could choose his apparel from anywhere at anytime.

4. EMMY AWARD WINNING ADVERTISING

Can you win an Emmy for an advert? Well, you can if you’re Nike and they’ve even done it twice. The clothing manufacturer won in 2000 and 2002. The 2002 ad was aired during the Olympics and was called ‘Move’. It showed athletes in one harmonious, continuous movement.

5. FUTURE STYLINGS

Nike designed Michael J. Fox’s famous hoverboarding shoes in movie juggernaut Back to the Future, released in 1985. In the fictional future, the film depicted for 2015, his character Marty wears them with style and created fans eager to see the trainers become a reality.

Fast forward to the real-life 2015 and you could grab an exclusive pair… if you could spare the dollar! Forward thinking at it’s best.

6.EPIC BOXING BOOTS

You’ll have seen the lightweight, high-top Nike KO boxing boots in the gym and on pro-boxers. In 2016 they came out to replace the older Machomai’s and are already one of the most popular boots in the sport. They’re a high-performance model that make use of the latest tech from the brand – always great to see them innovate and make footwear work for you.

7. WAFFLE GRIP DESIGN

What do you do when you get up for waffles in the morning? Well, we doubt you design the famous running grip on Nike trainers. The first trainers designed by Nike were made inside a waffle iron to create the grooved pattern for athletes to better grip the track. So, just do it – eat waffles and run!

8. “JUST DO IT” CRIMINAL ORIGIN?

Dan Wieden of advertising agency Widen+Kennedy came up with the famous slogan ‘Just Do It’ after hearing that convicted serial killer Gary Gilmore had said ‘Let’s do it” as he went to his execution. Now far removed from that inspiration, it’s one of the most recognisable slogans in the world.

9.NIKE SHOES MAKE TRACKS

We’re used to Nike shoes on the track as athletes compete but Nike also uses them to create tracks and playgrounds for children. Old shoes are recycled and continue their fitness lifecycle-long after they’ve run their last mile.

The material created is known as ‘Nike Grind’ and can even go into making new products, giving the materials a new lease of life.

10.LARGEST STORE IN LONDON

You might expect the largest store to be somewhere in California, the home of the brand, but in fact, it can be found on London’s Oxford Street. At 42,000 square feet with three floors, it’s a day out for any footwear fan.

11. NIKE OWN CONVERSE

Nike brought Converse, the traditional basketball inspired shoe back in the noughties but it’s easy to forget they’re affiliated. All the branding stayed the same but the team redesigned the soles to make the footwear even more comfortable. So, if you were wondering why they felt more like walking on air, now you know!

More of an Adidas guy? Check out 15 awesome facts about Adidas that you probably don’t know right here.

Got a brand you want to know more about? Let us know on Twitter.