Festival Edit

Reach your ultimate potential with Nike, one of the biggest names in the world of sports fashion. Founded by track-and-field coach Bill Bowerman and his former student Phil Knight, the Swoosh brand—called Blue Ribbon Sports before receiving its Greek-goddess-inspired name—has been supplying must-have footwear and apparel since 1964. The company is known for its signature collections (such as Air Force, Air Max, and Tech Fleece), which it has evolved over years with new designs and technological innovations. On top of making sure that each drop is on trend, the performance aspects of Nike shoes and clothing have always been a key focus, with the brand’s design team emphasising both appearance and functionality. If you’re looking to get your hands on some fresh gear, enter the world of Swoosh across JD Ireland’s expansive selection of Nike products, from runners and football boots to socks and tracksuits. Just do it!

The History of Nike

After Blue Ribbon Sports was established, Bowerman and Knight’s first course of action was to partner with Onitsuka, the company that would later be known as ASICS. They acted as the United States distributor of the Tiger shoe; however, it wasn’t long before Bowerman got to work on his own version, the Cortez. By 1971, the company no longer went by Blue Ribbon Sports, adopting the name Nike and their now-iconic Swoosh logo, which was intended to convey a sense of motion. The brand became independent of Onitsuka and steadily dipped its toes into the waters of new opportunity, including a game-changing deal with NBA star Michael Jordan.

Today, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t recognise the image of the Swoosh, with millions of sneakerheads and all-round fashion enjoyers repping the logo as part of their daily outfit. Nike shoes, clothing, and accessories are considered essentials, and everyone (athletes and trendsetters alike) can benefit from the timeless style and cutting-edge technologies that the brand provides.