The History of the Nike Cortez
To start this story we need to introduce you to Bill Bowerman.
Bowerman was an American running coach, and later the co-founder of Nike. He collaborated with the Japanese shoe company Asics, which at the time was still called Onitsuka Tiger, on the TG-24 running shoe.
In August 1966, Bowerman created 300 pairs of the 'TG-24 shoe designed by Bill Bowerman w/Mexico Line' to be sold in the US. The quality of the shoes were very good, and it had everything that a runner was looking for at the time. That’s why it became one of the best-selling running shoes of the year.
Before Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman called their company Nike, it was called Blue Ribbon Sports. BRS imported sports shoes from Japan to the US. In 1967 Bowerman decided to change the name of the TG-24 to a more 'market friendly' name. He called the shoes 'Mexico'. This name was inspired by the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico.
The ‘Aztec’
Once the Games ended, BRS and Onitsuka Tiger decided to change the name again, to something more striking. They chose the name ‘Aztec’, but encountered legal trouble, as competitor adidas claimed it looked too similar to their own ‘Azteca Gold’ track shoe.
BRS then settled on the name ‘Cortez’, after Hernán Cortés, the man who led an expedition that resulted in the downfall of the Aztec Empire. Could this have been a message to adidas?
The Cortez was not only popular among athletes. After the Olympics, the sneaker also quickly gained interest from the general public. It became the best-selling shoe in the history of BRS and Onitsuka Tiger, but behind the scenes, problems started to arise.
Nike vs. Onitsuka Tiger
Bowerman and Knight changed the name of their company in 1971 to Nike Inc, inspired by the Greek goddess of victory. The two decided to introduce their own line of shoes with the Nike Cortez. The Swoosh designed by student Carolyn Davidson was added to the side of the Cortez. This was the start of a years-long battle with Onitsuka Tiger on who got the rights to the Cortez name.
Both companies continued to design and sell shoes in the Cortez style, but because of this, litigation ensued. In 1974, the court ruled in favour of Nike. This led Onitsuka to rebrand the shoe under the name Tiger Corsair. This shoe is still very popular.
The World’s Lightest Running Shoe
In the same year, Bowerman changed the leather upper to a lightweight nylon construction, and the Nylon Nike Cortez was introduced as the world's lightest running shoe. There was also a women's version of the Cortez called the Senorita Cortez. This shoe became popular when seen on actress Farah Fawcett in the TV show Charlie's Angels.
The Forbidden Nike Sneaker
The Nike Cortez became loved by a very wide audience. With the rise of LA 'gangster rap', the model became popular in the hip-scene. It became known as 'Dopeman's Nikes' because of the 1987 NWA song Dopeman: "To be a dopeman boy, you must qualify. Don't get high off your own supply."
The colour of your Nike Cortez kicks indicated which gang you were in. The Bloods gang members wore red, while the Crips wore blue. When you saw these coloured sneakers on someone, you often knew it was a gang member. It got so out of hand in the early 1990s that schools even banned the shoes because they were considered 'gang-related'.
The notorious American gang MS-13 adopted the Nike Cortez as part of their uniform, as a sign of loyalty. In fact, the shoe has become so closely associated with the them that police in gang areas usually assume that anyone wearing the shoe is involved with MS-13.
Run Forrest, Run!
Another iconic moment in history caused a major breakthrough in the sneaker’s fame.
The 1994 film ‘Forrest Gump’ tells the story of a man with a low IQ, partly set in the 1970s. This film is often called a 'product placement slam dunk'. Forrest received the Cortez as a gift and described it as "The best gift anyone could ever give me!". The shoe became mega popular again due to the success of the film.
The model has been seen on screen multiple times since, most famously on the feet of character Steve Harrington in the massively popular TV series ‘Stranger Things’.
The show was so successful, we were even able to enjoy three collabs on the Nike Cortez. So for the release of the third season, the Stranger Things X Nike 'Hawkins High' Pack came out, including the white and green ‘Hawkins High’, the red and white ‘OG Collection’, and the off-white ‘Upside Down’.
The sneakers have also been seen on Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street, Kristen Stewart in Twilight, and Chris Pine in Wonder Woman 1984.
Nike Cortez: Answering Your Questions
Who created Nike Cortez?
Nike's Bill Bowerman originally created the Cortez in collaboration with Japanese company Onitsuka Tiger.
When did Nike Cortez come out?
The Cortez originated in 1966 as the 'TG-24 shoe design by Bill Bowerman w/Mexico Line' (yes really). It went through multiple name changes until the 'Cortez' was settled on.
Where does the name Cortez come from?
The original name for the Nike Cortez was 'Mexico', based on the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico. The name was later changed to 'Aztec', but Nike had to change it due to legal threats from adidas. The final name became Cortez, in honour of Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador responsible for the fall of the Aztec Empire.
Is the Nike Cortez comfortable?
The Nike Cortez is considered very comfortable. This is because of its sufficient stretch and support. The padding along the collar and tongue provide firm cushioning around your ankles, and there is little to no break-in period for the sneaker.
Is Nike Cortez a running shoe?
The Cortez was originally designed as a running shoe, but it's now considered more of a lifestyle shoe. The flat sole is not ideal for long-distance or high-impact running, and it lacks modern technology like Zoom Air or React foam.
Are Nike Cortez good for walking?
The Cortez is good for casual walking due to their lightweight design and EVA foam cushioned midsole, but they're not the best option for long-distance walking. They have minimal arch support, thin padding, and a flat outsole.
Do Cortez fit true to size?
The Cortez is known for its smaller fit and narrow toe-box, so it's recommended to size up half to a full size, especially if you have wide feet.
Why was Nike Cortez banned?
The Cortez was banned in US schools in the early 1990s due to their association with gangs. American gang MS-13 adopted the Cortez as part of their uniform, and the Bloods and Crips also wore red and blue Cortez respectively.
How to tell if Nike Cortez are fake?
You don't recognise fake Cortez by one fixed indicator. In fact, it is a combination of indicators that vary from pair to pair. However, you can use these indicators to virtually determine whether a pair of Cortez are genuine:
Material and colour, stitching, smell (fakes might have a strong chemical odour), weight (fakes tend to be lighter than the real thing), placement of the Swoosh, shape of the heel, discrepancies on the tongue, nose, insole and outsole, errors on the size label, incorrect product code (SKU), flimsy or faded packaging, lack of or discrepancies in accessories and, finally, judging prices and sellers.
How do you clean Nike Cortez?
A Cortez should be cleaned by hand. For the best results, remove the laces, then use a toothbrush to remove obvious dirt from the surface. Mix a mild detergent with some water and use a sponge or cloth to gently scrub harder stains. Use a damp cloth to wipe off the residue, then let them air-dry.
For a smelly sneaker, you can sprinkle baking soda inside the shoe, then leave overnight. The powder will absorb moisture and neutralise the smell. Shake out the excess before wearing again. Alternatively, you can use silica gel or activated charcoal bags for the same results.
Laces can be cleaned with a mild detergent and rinsed afterwards, or you can put white laces in a 1:5 bleach and water solution for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
In addition, we do not recommend putting your shoes in the washing machine. Sneakers made of leather and suede can come out damaged. With shoes made of canvas or cotton, the risk is less, but the chance of damaged sneakers remains. So we recommend always washing your sneakers by hand. If you do put them in the washing machine, then place the shoes in an old pillowcase beforehand.
Where can I buy Nike Cortez?
Do you have your eye on this model? With our sneaker search engine, you can browse the Nike Cortez at different retailers and at different prices. Our release calendar also keeps you up to date on Cortez restocks and new releases!
Popular Nike Cortez Colorways
Nike have released many successful colorways on the Cortez, and these are some of the most popular and all-time favourites.
Nike Cortez 'Oregon' | HF1435-300
The ‘Oregon’ is inspired by the colours of the University of Oregon, where the co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman, attended and trained.
The upper features a dark green colour and combines mesh and suede materials, and the yellow, leather overlays on the heel contrast nicely with the upper.
Nike Cortez 'Forrest Gump' | FZ1347-100
The ‘Forrest Gump’ features a white leather base with varsity red, varsity blue, and metallic silver accents.
In the 1994 film, Tom Hanks' character receives the same OG Cortez as a gift from Jenny Curran before embarking on his famous running adventure.
Nike WMNS Cortez TXT ‘Watermelon’ | HF9994-300
The combination of green and pink tones on the upper of the ‘Watermelon’ make it the perfect summer colorway. The white midsole, tongue, and laces provide a nice contrast.
This version of the Cortez features a wider toe box, more substantial side panels, and a new textile on the upper that resists warping and wrinkling.
Nike Cortez WMNS 'Black and White' | DZ2795-001
In a classic ‘Black and White’ colour scheme, this Cortez has an upper designed with suede and leather sections for a luxurious aesthetic.
It’s a versatile option with a black upper that contrasts with the clean white Swoosh, midsole and heel tab.
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