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Nike Tech, A Look At A Fashion Staple

Nike might be the most important name in fashion. It is without question the most important name in sneakers. But what has made Nike special is how they have dominated the attention of the public in shoes, sportswear and so much more. Nike Tech is one of the most important contributions The Swoosh has made to the culture.

Nike Tech Pack

The Nike Tech Pack would debut in 2007. Nike has always made sportwear that was aimed at the athlete but was chic enough for casual wear. When Nike was first starting out, in the 70s and 80s, they found success with sneakers like the Cortez. Windrunner jackets were also popular for Nike. Nike learned very early on that sportwear couldn’t just be highly functional, it also had to appeal to people who were looking to make a fashion statement. Names like Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson played a huge part in making Nike more than just a sportswear brand.

Windrunner

The first tech pack featured an update on the Nike classic Windrunner. The first tech pack featured no sow technology. This is where the fabric is welded together. The pack initially included jackets, crews, hoodies and tees.

Nike windrunner

2013

The Teck Pack would go on a bit of a hiatus but would return in 2013. The Pack featured pieces that were in part designed by athletes, for athletes. Nike reached out to some of the top names in sport to help make pieces that worked for the modern athlete. The Pack would be able to withstand harsh weather conditions. Nike Tech Fleece would be introduced in 2013. Fleece has become an important part of the Nike Tech collections. Tech Fleece is made from two layers of cotton jersey. The construction allowed for a warm but lightweight fit.

A Streetwear Mainstay

Nike Tech Fleece has been a mainstay in the Streetwear space for years now. It represents casual coolness in a way no other sportswear brand has achieved. Nike Tech, and specifically Nike Tech Fleece, is an icon of modern fashion.

Nike tech fleece

NIKE, Inc.

In 1971, Nike would become the new name of the company. The winged Greek goddess of victory inspired the name. The iconic Nike Swoosh was also created in 1971. A graphic design student created the world famous logo. The logo was crafted to convey speed and the goddess Nike was its inspiration. The first shoes to feature the Nike Swoosh were the Nike Cleat and the Nike Waffle Racer at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon.

The first Nike factory location opened in 1984 in Portland, Oregon. This led to the first Niketown opening in 1990, which was also located in Portland. Niketown was able to broaden the storytelling ability of the brand. Consumers could interact with the products in the store, learn more about them, and the athletes that endorsed them. More Niketown locations would quickly follow. Locations that would be placed all over the world. This would strengthen Nike’s status as a global retailer.

In 1996, Nike launched nike.com. The site focused on storytelling initially. It gave site visitors the chance to learn more about Nike’s large list of athletes. Storytelling has always been an important part of Nike’s brand. The storytelling has grown more mythical and epic as time passes on for Nike.

The Nike website got bigger and more unique in 1998 when NikeiD launched. The ability for the consumer to customize their own Nikes was trailblazing at the time. In 1999, the site fully transitioned from an editorial hub to an e-commerce platform.

About Phil Knight

Phil Knight is the co-founder of Nike. Knight was the President of Nike from 1968 to 1990. He would return as President from 2000-2004. Before getting involved with Nike, Knight was a certified public accountant and a Professor of Business Administration.

About Bill Bowerman

Bill Bowerman is one of the most renowned track coaches of all time. Bowerman coached Phil Knight when he was a runner at the University of Oregon. Bowerman was a coach at Oregon for 24 years. He helped to develop some of the greatest runners of all time, like Steve Prefontaine.

The Knight & Bowerman Team

Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight both had an interest in approving the footwear that was available for athletes. In the early 1970s, Bowerman developed the waffle outsole. The waffle outsole was an experiment by Bowerman that had him pouring rubber compound into his wife’s waffle iron. The duo wanted to offer athletic shoes with more traction and that were lighter. The waffle soles and the great marketing of Nike helped to establish them as a leading athletic shoemaker very quickly.

 

- Adam C. Better