The Cortez was the sneaker that began it all for me. My first pair of Nike was the white Cortez. The Nike Cortez was designed by Bill Bowerman and was released in 1972 during the summer Olympics. This shoe was intended for training and running. Bowerman’s goal was to provide a more comfortable shoe for runners. Bowerman did not know that this shoe would put Nike on the map.
Originally this shoe was called the “Mexico” which the 1968 Summer Olympics inspired. After the Olympics ended Nike changed the name looking for something more catchy. They came up with the Aztec. This was shut down when Adidas threatened legal action. Nike then chose Cortez after Hernan Cortez would lead the defeat of the Aztecs in the 1500s. This could have been an indicator of how Nike was going to dominate the sneaker industry.
After the Olympics, the Cortez played an integral role in the running movement of the 70s. Nike was able to sign Steve Prefontaine to an endorsement deal. Other Notable celebrities that wore the Cortez included Farah Fawcett, Elton John, and Whitney Houston. Farah Fawcett sported the first pair of Women’s Cortez in an episode of Charlie’s Angels.
In the ’80s the Cortez became a symbol of unity for Los Angles gang members. Gangs like Bloods, Crips, and MS-13 sported the shoe for their brotherhood. The Cortez was also known as the “Dope Man” after NWA’s Dope Man track. The Cortez continues to be a mainstay in L.A. sneaker culture. Nike has made Cortez collaborations with Mark Machado (Mister Cartoon), Kendrick Lamar, and most recently Union LA. For more on the Cortez check out the Union Cortez review from my closet.
1 Comment
Comments are closed.