Phil Knight Recalls Creation of Nike for 50th Anniversary

Undoubtedly one of the world’s most impactful brands, Nike today celebrates its 50th anniversary, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman famously making the brand official on May 1, 1972.

Recalling the seismic moment on Instagram, Knight detailed the events that lead-up to the history-making moment.

After Onitsuka Co. terminated their contract with Blue Ribbon Sports, Knight called to mind the ‘gut punch’ that put in motion the creation of Nike as we know it today.

‘I remember thinking, ‘This is it – this is the moment. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Our moment. No more working for someone else. If we’re going to succeed, or fail, we should do so on our own terms, with our own ideas, with our own brand.’

‘We had a dream, our love of sports, a ton of ambition, a trunk full of running shoes, and a big Swoosh on all of them,’ Knight wrote. ‘The rest is history. Our history.’

Working closely with athletes to bring the brand into focus, Nike became the most successful sportswear brand in history.

In 2021, Nike's global revenue amounted to about $44.54 billion.

Don’t forget to create your own SF profile to stay updated! Simply click ‘Sign in’ on our menu and join the fam.⁠,