Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight first sold the shoe in 1968 with Onitsuka Tiger, renamed it Cortez, and brought it to Nike in 1972. After the 45th-anniversary year in 2017, Nike returned the Cortez to its leather and nylon origins for Spring 2018, in colorways such as White and Gym Blue. In January 2018 Kendrick Lamar’s Cortez Kenny I also launched. We made it internally, Nike Brand Design EMEA with Nike Sportswear, and Nike Brand Design briefed and creative directed the outside agencies.
