Nike footwear and apparel

Nike, one of the most recognizable brands in the world, was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. Originally a distributor for Japanese shoemaker Onitsuka Tiger, the company officially rebranded as Nike, Inc. in 1971, adopting the iconic Swoosh logo and focusing on its own innovative designs. The brand's early success was anchored by the "Waffle Trainer," a revolutionary sole pattern created by Bowerman using his wife's waffle iron.

Today, Nike operates a vast and sophisticated global supply chain. While its corporate headquarters remain in Beaverton, Oregon, the company does not own any of the factories that produce its goods. Instead, it contracts with independent manufacturers primarily located in Asia. As of 2026, Vietnam remains the largest manufacturing hub for Nike footwear, accounting for over 50% of total production, followed by Indonesia and China. Apparel production is even more diversified, spanning dozens of countries including Cambodia and Thailand.

Nike, Inc. is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. While it is owned by a wide range of institutional investors—such as The Vanguard Group and BlackRock—the founding Knight family retains significant governance control through a dual-class share structure. The brand continues to lead the global sportswear market through a combination of performance innovation, high-profile athlete endorsements, and a shift toward digital and direct-to-consumer sales strategies.