In the summer of 1965, Bill Bowerman, head coach of the University of Oregon Track and Field, later the co-founder of Nike, initiated contact with Japanese shoe manufacturer Onitsuka and made many suggestions for its running shoes. This relationship gave Bowerman the opportunity to put his expertise and many design ideas for running shoes to good use and turned them into reality with the help of Onitsuka’s design team.
In 1968, using Bowerman’s design, Onituka lauched the first version of the Cortez, a running shoe which would go on to become Onitsuka’s best seller.
When it went to production in 1972, the Cortez embarked on its long-standing history and is in fact the most enduring shoe through out Nike’s product line. Current production on the Cortez has preserved its original spirit and style features. Forrest Gump wore a pair of Cortez in the classic film of the same name, making him the ideal Cortez spokesman.
Designed with a sleek shape and a large swoosh logo, the Cortez came equipped with a lightweight EVA midsole, nylon vamp and rounded toe, creating a light, comfortable, aerodynamic and technologically superior shoe. In the 1970s, the world of track and field became swept up in Cortez fever and its revolutionary technology forever changed the course of running shoe history. The Cortez infatuation has plagued generations since its conception, making it more than a classic running shoe, but a true vintage fashion icon!
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