Nike's origin story is both scrappy and wholesome, featuring a fresh-faced MBA graduate and his eccentric former track coach, Bill Bowerman, who sold high-quality running shoes from a beat-up RV. Bowerman's obsession with reducing weight and increasing speed led to innovations like the waffle-patterned "Moon Shoe," which revolutionized grip and durability in running footwear.
Today, Nike stands as one of the largest apparel companies globally, with its iconic swoosh symbolizing both fashion and high-performance athletics. However, at its core, Nike remains a research-driven company.
The first museum exhibition dedicated to Nike, titled "Nike: Form Follows Motion," will debut at the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany, from September 21, 2024, to May 2025. Accompanying the exhibition is a book by Glenn Adamson, which will be released on December 3. The long wait for a Nike exhibition is partly due to the secrecy surrounding the Department of Nike Archives, which has only recently opened to the public.
Adamson gained access to the archives, examining around 200,000 artifacts, including prototypes and sketches. The exhibition highlights Nike's design evolution and features early competition against Adidas and Puma, emphasizing the importance of athlete endorsements—such as those first Waffle shoes given to runners in the 1972 Olympic trials.
Nike’s global reputation skyrocketed with its partnership with Michael Jordan, whose Air Jordans generated $70 million in sales within two months of release. The exhibition also showcases the Nike Sport Research Lab, responsible for innovations like Nike Free, Flyknit, and the Vaporfly.
The show concludes with a gallery featuring 50 examples of Nike's collaborations with fashion designers, including unique creations like a shoe "grown" from recycled materials and a soccer cleat that doubles as a high heel. This exhibition not only celebrates Nike's history but also illustrates the brand's impact on our perception of the human body through sport.
Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com
