It all started 50 years ago, when Bill Bowerman started shaving off the spikes on the bottom of sports shoes to help runners perform faster and better. He then had the idea of starting his very own shoe brand, which eventually led to the Swoosh branding we see everywhere today.
50 years later, Nike has now cemented itself as the ultimate destination not only for shoes, but for all your sportswear needs. What makes Nike such a memorable brand is not only their footwear, but who they choose to fill them. Nike has made the conscious effort to align itself with female athletes from around the globe, from Serena Williams to Manal Rostom and so many more honourable names in the field.
Nike’s history with celebrating strong female athletes goes back to 1984, when Joan Benoit Samuelson was crowned as the first women’s Olympic Games marathon champion. Ever since, the brand has continued to empower females not only in sports, but within all creative fields across the globe. Nike teamed up with Egyptian clothing designer Engy Mahdy, who adds her personal touch through colours and creativity, and themed her designs as a ‘transformation,’ from her personal journey’s to the brand’s.
In an exclusive interview with Engy, she described her inspiration behind her creations with Nike, “I love the future. I love culture too, but culture will always be with us so it’s fun to see what the future can bring.”
There’s no denying that Nike has done an impeccable job at supporting and empowering women, and we’re sure the next 50 years will only bring more exciting opportunities and collaborations their way. From Engy’s point of view, she believes that the next 50 years of Nike would look even more innovative than before, “Nike is innovation at its peak.”
To celebrate 50 years of Nike, the brand hosted activations around the city and the Nike Store In The Dubai Mall, from digital footwear customization to community training sessions. Engy Mahdy made an appearance at the celebratory event where women were invited to use Engy’s exclusive designs to customize Nike product in their own unique way. Consumers personalized the Nike Pegasus, using a digital touch-screen control board, and it’s not too late for you to try it out for yourself.
