Ask any guy to name a sportswear brand and he'll probably say Nike. After all, over the last 50 years, Nike has become the A1 manufacturer of athletic clothing for sportsmen and regular guys alike.

Most guys know this – but not many guys know why.

In today's article, we're breaking out the reasons why Nike has dominated the sporting and fashion world over the last half-decade.

The History Of Nike Clothing For Men

Nike's history begins in 1964, when two athletes – Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight – came together with the goal of making better quality running shoes.

They started by importing shoes from Japan, before eventually setting up their own manufacturing base there. The reason they set up shop in Japan is quite simple – at the time, manufacturing costs in Japan were a fraction of what they were in the US.

This allowed Nike to sell their shoes at a much lower price than their competitors, and it quickly made them one of the most popular brands on the US market.

Nike Clothing For Men – 1970s

By the early 1970s, Nike was already starting to make a name for themselves.

However, Nike's first big break came in 1972, when they signed a deal with the Olympic track star Steve Prefontaine.

This deal was Nike's first foray into the world of professional athletes, and it quickly paid off.

Nike Clothing For Men – 1980s

During the 1980s, Nike began to expand their range of products, and they also started to sponsor more and more professional athletes.

By the end of the decade, Nike was sponsoring some of the biggest names in the world of sport, including Michael Jordan.

But it wasn't just sportsmen that took to the brand. Hollywood also took to the brand, with stars like Michael J. Fox and Kevin Bacon wearing the brand on and off the big screen.

It was around this time that Nike began to produce a wider range of clothing, and they also began to experiment with new materials and technologies.

One of Nike's most iconic products from this period is the Air Max line of shoes, which was first released in 1987.

The Air Max line was Nike's first foray into the world of ‘air-cushioned' soles, and it quickly became one of the most popular lines of Nike shoes.

Nike Clothing For Men – 1990s

In the early 1990s, Nike began to focus more on their image, and they also started to produce more fashion-orientated clothing.

This was a smart move, as it helped Nike to appeal to a wider range of people. The sporting world can be very profitable, but Nike realized that without branching out into the world of everyday fashion, they were limiting their potential.

They began to release more ranges of fashion trainers and different styles of clothing that could be worn by the everyday man without making him look like a professional athlete.

Nike Clothing For Men – Today

Nike Clothing For Men is now one of the most popular ranges of clothing in the world, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

The Nike brand is now worth billions of dollars, and it is worn by people across the globe both on and off the sporting pitch.

From sporting jerseys to glasses, you can see the famous Nike tick almost everywhere you look. Not too shabby for a brand that started out selling cheap track shoes from Japan!

Which Celebrities Have Helped Nike Succeed?

As with any brand, celebrity endorsement is often the key to success. After all, regular guys have been looking up to celebrities for style inspiration for the last 100 years!

As a sporting brand, Nike would be stupid not to sign with athletes and sports teams. After all, it's what they're known for and has been one of the biggest drivers of their success since the early '70s.

Steve Prefontaine

Steve Prefontaine was a famous track star during the early 1970s. He was also the first big-name celebrity that Nike used to endorse their sneakers.

In exchange for a $5000 signing bonus, Prefontaine agreed to endorse Nike track sneakers during his races. This deal quickly paid off for Nike as they became the shoe of choice for many other professional athletes.

After all, with Prefontaine's success on the running tracks, Nike must have looked like the obvious choice for any other serious runner.

Michael Jordan

Nike's biggest coup came in 1984 when they signed a young basketball player by the name of Michael Jordan.

At the time, Nike was not the biggest player in the basketball shoe market. In fact, they were up against some stiff competition from brands such as Converse and Reebok.

But Nike was willing to take a risk on the young player, and it paid off in a big way. Not only did Michael Jordan help Nike to sell millions of dollars worth of sneakers, but he also helped to raise the profile of the Nike brand with the NBA.

Fun fact: Initially, Michael Jordan didn't want to sign with Nike. He thought that hey didn't understand the basketball market.

Michael J. Fox in Back To The Future

Throughout the Back To The Future Trilogy, Marty McFly can be seen wearing Nike trainers in the past, present and future.

However, it was in the second movie that Nike really made an impact on viewers with their futuristic self-tying sneaker design (The Nike Mag Sneaker).

Although the Nike Mag sneakers from Back To The Future II were never actually released, Nike did release a limited edition run of 1500 pairs in 2016. All proceeds from the sale of these sneakers went to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

The Nike Mags are now some of the most sought-after sneakers in the world.

Tiger Woods

Nike is also well-known within the world of professional golf – so who better to endorse their product than the legendary Tiger Woods.

Tiger Woods first signed with Nike in 1996 and has since gone on to win numerous golf tournaments, including 14 majors.

During his career, Tiger Woods has helped Nike to sell millions of dollars worth of golf equipment. He has also been a big part of Nike's advertising campaigns over the years – endorsing anything from golfing shirts to clubs and caps.

What Clothing Is Nike Most Famous For?

So what is Nike most famous for? We've seen celebs and sportsmen wear anything from Nike shoes to Nike shirts – so it's hard to say which style of clothing they're best known for.

However, if we look at the figures, there's a clear winner when it comes to how much revenue Nike brings in from it's different ranges of products.

In 2021, Nike's revenue grew to a staggering $44.54Billion!

When I did a bit more research into that massive figure, I found that 66% of their revenue in 2021 came from footwear sales. This was followed by sporting apparel at 31% and then sporting equipment at 3%.

In short, Nike's shoes made nearly twice the amount of money as the other two revenue streams combined.

But what does this mean for popularity? Well, you know what they say – money talks. Nike's footwear is clearly the most popular and worn product in their repertoire both on and off the sporting pitch.

It makes sense when you think about it. Consider how many different styles, designs, and fits of sneakers are available from Nike. There's quite literally something for everyone – so regardless of your personal style, chances are there's a Nike sneaker that you'd gladly have in your collection.

Is Nike Clothing Timeless And Stylish?

Yes and no.

When it comes to timeless style, big brands like Nike have a bit of an advantage over smaller brands.

The fact is, Nike has been around for over 50 years and they're not going anywhere anytime soon. So when you buy Nike clothing, you know that it's not going to go out of fashion next season.

However, that doesn't mean that Nike's clothing is impervious to changing trends. Nike is a big brand and they need to stay relevant to their customer base – which means that their clothing designs will change over time to reflect the current fashion trends.

For example, Nike's Air Max trainers were first released in 1987 and they've been through many different style iterations since then.

So, when it comes to shopping for Nike brand additions to your timeless wardrobe, you need to consider a few things:

1. Is this item fashionable or stylish? Fashionable clothing changes according to current trends, while stylish clothing rises above it. So if the sneakers you're considering are plain and minimal, chances are they're stylish. However, those gaudy multicolored high-top sneakers probably won't be.
2. How big is the branding? At the end of the day, no man looks good with a giant logo printed across their chest. Some Nike shirts fall prey to this poor design choice while others feature minimal branding. When shopping for a timeless wardrobe, opt for the latter.
3. Is this garment age-appropriate? Let's be honest, a 50-year-old guy can't dress the same as a 21-year-old. Nike's clothing is made for all age groups, so make sure you're choosing something that won't make you look out of place. The more youthful garments they produce are more ‘fashion forward', so avoid these at all costs and stick to the timeless Nike classics.

Nike Clothing Look Book

Wearing sports branded clothing can be tough – especially if you don't know what you're doing.

However, as long as you get the right garments and wear them in the right way, you'll look just as stylish as you would wearing a suit.

To help you guys out, I've created a few go-to outfits that utilize Nike clothing for men in a stylish and timeless way.

Nike Sneakers With A Suit

As with any suit and sneaker combo, the key word is simplicity.

Will a pair of fluorescent high-tops look good with your fine tailoring? No.

However, if you opt for a pair of minimalist white sneakers, wearing them with a suit becomes a much easier task. When you wear plain white sneakers with a suit, they don't stand out or overpower your outfit. The last thing you want is people staring at your feet all day, so opt for a minimal design with little to no branding.

How To Wear Sneakers With Suit

Nike Blazer Low-Tops are a great option here. You can purchase them in plain white, and opt for a plain-white tick to boot. This means that, despite the large Nike logo across the side, it's not that visible and will work perfectly as part of a suit ensemble.

Nike Polo Shirts With Chinos And A Blazer

Wearing a polo shirt as part of a smart-casual ensemble is a classic look men have been experimenting with for years.

There's no reason you can't achieve this look by wearing a high-quality sports polo from Nike! Pair a black/white polo shirt with a textured gray blazer and navy chinos for a quality smart-casual look that'll never go out of style.

5 Ways To Wear A Polo Infographic

In fact, Nike's golfing polo shirts are a great option here. They come in a high-quality, slightly silky material that looks great with smart casual attire.

Just make sure to buy one that's well-fitting and not too boxy! If the rest of your outfit is slimming and well-tailored, a boxy polo top just won't match up.

Nike Sweaters At The Weekend

For a more casual outfit, you can't go wrong it a classic Nike sweater atop some jeans and sneakers.

Nike isn't a brand that's made for formal settings or the work environment. However, when it comes to dressing down and feeling comfortable, it's a different story altogether.

A monochromatic sweater looks great with a pair of light-wash jeans and white sneakers. If you're out with the wife and kids at the weekend or simply lounging around at home, there's no better way of looking stylish and remaining casual and comfortable.

Stick to plain white sneakers with this outfit – for the same reasons as I mentioned above.

However, to add a bit of an edge to your casual ensemble, roll up the sleeves of your Nike sweatshirt to show off your timepiece and reveal your forearms. I know I say it a lot – but women love to see a man's forearms!

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The post Nike Sportswear: 50 Years of History and Style appeared first on Real Men Real Style.

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