Nike Sportswear Cortez Basic Leather

The Nike Cortez has a special history because is descents from the days when Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman worked on a shoe together with Japanese sportswear brand Onitsuka Tiger, then ordered and distributed it. However, after founding Nike together with Phil Knight in 1971 (after a successful distribution business as “Blue Ribbon Sport”) they took the name, Cortez, with them and released their first shoe in 1972, designed by Carolyn Davidson. After its initial leather version, they switched materials to a lightweight nylon construction to develop the lightest running shoe ever. With over 45 years and even though you don’t see the design not anymore for track and field purposes, the Nike Cortez is more than ever a statement shoe, not just on the U.S. Westcoast and this black leather takes it all back to the year when it all started. A leather upper with white Swoosh, heel tap, and midsole as well as a rubber outsole.

- Leather and synthetic construction

- Foam sole for lightweight cushioning

- Rubber outsole with herringbone pattern