How a ruined waffle iron launched the Nike empire

nike Nike engineers knit seamless shoe uppers from a single thread.

nike Nike Air Engineering

Float on air, float on air Pressurized gas inside the sole.

nike NASA engineer Marion Frank Rudy created Nike Air-Sole technology.

nike Spools of thread feed into a machine knitting a seamless Nike Flyknit shoe.

nike A Renaissance fresco painting displays a classical shoe with a luminous, transparent heel window

BETA

nike Pour rubber into the waffle iron to discover how a kitchen tool built Nike's empire.

Fun Fact

Air cushion origin: Marion Frank Rudy spent years pitching his air-sole technology to multiple skeptical shoe companies before Nike finally accepted it.

Gossip

What sneaker technology matters most to you?

Quiz

Which famous Parisian building inspired Tinker Hatfield to design visible shoe technology?

nike Designer Tinker Hatfield made the invisible air inside Nike shoes visible

Gossip

How much would you pay for rare sneakers?

Quiz

Who is the legendary Nike designer behind the Air Max 1 and many iconic Air Jordan models?

nike Sneakers evolve from athletic gear into high-value fine art collectibles.

Quiz

What sustainable knitting technology did Nike introduce in 2012 to make seamless, lightweight shoe uppers?

Quiz

What was the profession of Marion Frank Rudy, the inventor who pitched 'Air' cushioning to Nike?

Quiz

Which high-end designer collaborated with Nike on the ultra-rare 2020 Air Force 1s that sold at Sotheby's?

Quiz

Which iconic shoe was the first to feature a visible 'Air' window in its sole in 1987?

Quiz

By approximately what percentage did Flyknit technology reduce raw material waste in shoe uppers?

Quiz

What is the estimated global market value of the sneaker resale industry today?