Clarks’ Rapid Mocc for men

When it comes to comfortable, stylish footwear, Clarks is the brand most consumers trust. For almost two centuries, the footwear manufacturer has created and designed shoes which people truly adore and love.

This British company started in 1825 when James Clark first thought of making slippers. After drawing inspiration from the sheepskin rugs that were from his brother Cyrus’ tannery, James managed to create the sheepskin slipper.

In 1842 sales of the sheepskin slipper, which was named “Brown Petersburg”, skyrocketed as a monthly average of 1000 pairs were sold. This handcrafted shoe became the footwear of choice for Englishmen. As sales flourished, Cyrus and James – who renamed their venture C&J Clark Limited – relied on outworkers to answer to the growing demand for the Brown Petersburg.

For years, business went smoothly for the Clark brothers. In 1851, they were even received two awards at the Great Exhibition, an event that showcased successful British businesses.

Boat Race, an adorable flat women’s shoe, is a favorite of among Marie Claire fashion editors.

But in 1863, the Clarks found themselves a victim of the recession. In order to save their business, James and Clark turned to the Quaker community for a loan. Unfortunately, the loan necessitated James and Cyrus to step down and let William, James’ youngest son, to take over the company.

Although the transition was thought to be fatal for the company, it actually helped Clarks to flourish more. William helped modernize the process by investing in factory equipment, to help mass producing their products. Under his reign, C&J Clark relinquished its former glory, and has managed to pay the loan it owed to the Quaker community. To show his appreciation of the help the community extended upon his company when it was in deep trouble, William provided homes for his diligent workers.

In 1833, William introduced another footwear trend – the Hygienic range. It is the first shoe created to fit the shape of the foot. From then until now, this shoe remains to be Clarks’ most famous product.

By the turn of the century, Clarks continued to expand under the leadership as John, Roger, and Alice Clark joined the company. At the time women became the top consumer. In response to this emerging sector, Clarks created the female ankle shoe along with other a wide variety of women’s footwear.

The Desert Boot was the brainchild of Nathan Clark.

With a lot of shoes on their shelves, Clarks ventured into advertising their products. In 1936, their first press ad was published. The company also introduced a children’s line and had chain store, Peter Lord to sell their products.

However as the Britain engaged in both of the World Wars, the company began to become deeply affected by the conflict. For instance in World War II, the main Clarks factory was used to make torpedoes. Also as both wars progressed it led to a shortage of raw materials, making it even more difficult for the company to produce their famous shoes. However with scarcity brought ingenuity as the company began to use other materials, such as wood in their products. Clarks resourcefully came up with a unique, hinged wooden shoe that can cater to the footwear needs of the nation.

Post-war, Clarks welcomed the growth of their company by opening 15 factories all over the United Kingdom. It also launched unique shoes such as the Desert Boot, which was created by Nathan Clark in 1950. By 1957 Clarks’ first flagship store opened in London’s Regents Street.

With time, Clarks found itself closing its UK factories and relocating them to overseas locations. Notwithstanding the location change, Clarks assures its customers that its shoes remain the same – comfy, stylish, and tough.

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Marithe + Francois Girbaud Top Stitch Shuttle Jean.

Not many fashionable couples have managed to put up their own high-end clothing company. But this was a different case for the French couple who created Marithe + Francois Girbaud in 1969.

This clothing line specializes in jeans and casual fashion. Its flagship stores can be found worldwide in trendy fashion districts of Paris and Beverly Hills. In the United States, Marithe + Francois Girbaud is acclaimed in the suburban and urban boroughs of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston.

The company developed many firsts in its 40 years in the industry. Notably in 1977 they launched the first baggy jeans. This innovative style was received warmly by people all around the world. In 1980, the company changed the face of denims by launching the stylish X-pocket.

In 1982, Marithe + Francois Girbaud extended their fashionable reach to the American market by having Jennifer Beals of Flash Dance as their spokesperson. Three years later, they opened their emblematic store along the sophisticated Parisian street of Etienne Marcel.

After this, they launched the “African cut,” which helped revolutionize the face of American street style. Marithe + Francois Girbaud’s “African cut” jeans became famous in American cities because of its loose fit.
The early 90’s Marithe + Francois Girbaud proved that it is more than just clothes. In 1992, they launched a peace movement spearheaded by its North America division. It aimed to help the youth avoid violence.

In 1998, the brand earned some popularity within the hip hop world as musician Juvenile showed his appreciation for Marithe + Francois Girbaud Jeans as he released the song. The line “You got lots of Girbaud jeans, ha?” reflects the Louisianan devotion for its jeans.

This 2005 ad was banned in France and Italy for its ‘malicious’ depiction of the Last Supper.

In 2005, Marithe + Francois Girbaud launched a controversial ad campaign featuring the epic Last Supper scene wherein the apostles where replaced by ladies. The company cites the ad as a tribute to “women.” Unfortunately, it was banned in France and Italy because of its “malicious” representation of the very foundations of the Catholic religion. In a statement from the Istituto di Autodisciplina Pubblicitaria they said: “This kind of image, with a high concentration of theological symbols, cannot be recreated and parodied for commercial ends without offending the religious sensitivities of at least part of the population”.

However with all of its successes and scandals in the fashion industry, Marithe + Francois Girbaud continues to be a pioneer in the market.

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Pioneer G-shock watch. This is the DW-5000 model which was first released in 1983.

Founded in 1974, G-shock by Casio is the toughest watch in the world. The creation of this unique timepiece all started when Casio designers were inspired to make a watch that was durable and tough. G-shock watches followed the “Triple 10” development concept, which means a watch that it can endure a 10-meter free fall, a 10-bar water submersion, and have a battery that will last for a decade.

When G-shock was introduced in the market, most people believed that watches are breakable and disposable items. The company, however, wanted to break this stereotype by creating over 200 experimental watch prototypes to test their build and endurance. The development and improvement process took the designers a good two years to perfect.

After numerous tests, G-shock unveiled its first watch, the Original G-Shock (Shock Resist) DW-5000 model in 1983. This product showcased a hollow-structured case, multi-directional protective covering, and shielding cushion that helped protect parts that had to be protected.

Two years after the debut of the first G-shock watch, the company came up with DW-5500, a watch made of Bezel molded of two different materials. By 1987, G-shock made a complete watch “makeover” by initiating their first G-shock watch design change, by creating the DW-5600 CC or Original Model II, which became as one of the company’s longest-selling models.

In the following year, the brand came up with its very first analog watch, the AW-500. This analog watch was equipped with shock-resistant materials. In 1990, G-shock took its durability to a whole new level by creating the first strong resin case. That year they also unveiled its first triple dial design and digital graphic display. It also made use of the plastic case which allowed greater design freedom.

In 1992, G-shock broke new ground by creating the first sensor-equipped watch. The following year, the company came up with the First MAN Series Model. The Frogman watch was the first waterproof watch of for the company.

G-shock’s Mudman (G-9000) watch.

Two breakthroughs surrounded G-shock in 1994. First was the development of the multi-colored capsule tough construction, which helped protect the watch even more. The second was the creation of the first EL model, DW-6600. This luminescent watch enabled wearers to tell time in the dark and communicate with others in a new and unique form.

Frogman 2, released in 1995, chronicled G-shock’s use of surgical-grade Titanium. In 1996, G-shock released two unique watches, DW-5600E (featured a plastic fortified resin case) and MRG-100 (first full metal model.)

Progression continued in 1998, when G-shock unveiled three new models. One of them was the DW-9300, which was the first tough solar model that enabled users to use their watch despite minimal sunlight. Another was the GS-500, a watch made of high-quality resin model. G-shock also launched GC-2000, a model which combined the aesthetics and durability of metal and resin.

In 2000, G-shock revolutionized accurate time-telling with the launch of GW-100, the first radio-controlled watch. The calibration signals it receives enabled the watch to adjust the time accurately. The Original Model IV, or the G-5600, released the Tough Solar Model, a modification of the original model in 2002.

In 2003, G-shock combined the best of both worlds by creating GW-300, a radio-controlled timekeeping solar model. Like its predecessors, it allowed minimal sunlight for power and calibration signals for time adjustments. A modification of the 2002 model (GW-5600) was re-released in 2005. It was named Original Model V.

Two breakthrough watches were unveiled in 2007. They are the Mudman (G-9000) and Gulfman (G-9100) models. Mudman, or the Mud-Resist G-Shock, is specially designed for rally races. It shuts out dust so it can work out well even in severe mud conditions. The Gulfman, on the other hand, is a marine G-shock meant to be worn by people who work or play underwater. It makes use of Titanium which assures wearers of its toughness even under rough water conditions.

Throughout the years, G-shock has strived to make stronger, durable watches meant to withstand shock, water pressure, dust, and other elements that could render a simple watch unusable. After over 30 years, the brand continues to produce the toughest timepieces for the masses.

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Disney Apparel

Disney’s environmentally-friendly hoodie.

On October 16, 1923, the Disney brothers Walt and Roy founded this small animation company and help turn it into one of Hollywood’s largest entertainment corporations. Today the company owns a variety of filming studios, television channels ESPN and ABC, and eleven international theme parks. Disney’s current official headquarters and facilities are located at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California with Mickey Mouse as their official mascot.

The Walt Disney Company has a lot of subsidiaries, including the Disney Consumer Products which is headed by Andrew P. Mooney. This section of the company deals with manufacturing and distributing the Disney brand and associated properties, including Disney Channel shows and Disney movies. In 2006 alone, Disney generated $23 million for its products, making the company the world’s company with the most global retail sales.

The merchandise Disney Consumer Products manufactures include apparel, animation art, electronics, toys, magazines, books, interactive games, home décor, stationery, food, beverages, and animation art. These products are available at the Disney Store and at the company’s official website: www.disneyshopping.go.com.

There are a lot of Disney apparel and products to choose from. Many of the products the brand offers feature a wide variety of Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Nemo, Winnie the Pooh, Buzz, Snow White, Donald, Tigger, and much more. Adults and kids alike can enjoy quality, earth-friendly hoodies, tank tops, graphic tees, long sleeve tees, sweatshirts, business card holders, and duffle bags that are sold in each Disney store.

Sesame Street Apparel

“Got Cookie?” Sesame Street apparel.

As many of us know, Sesame Street is a popular American educational children’s television show. This Emmy Award-winning program is the pioneer of modern educational television paradigm because of its ability to fuse entertainment and education.

Sesame Street graced the airwaves almost four decades ago on November 10, 1969, making it the longest-running children’s show on American TV. It is produced by the Sesame Workshop, a non-profit organization formerly known as the Children’s Television Workshop that was founded by Ralph Rogers and Joan Ganz Cooney.

Because of the show’s popularity, a lot of kids, and kids at heart, have clamored for Sesame Street-inspired products. So in 2005, the company launched the Sesame Beginnings line in Canada. This collection was comprised of apparel, home products, health and body products, and other merchandise. Sesame Beginnings is geared towards fostering a deeper interaction between infants and parents.

Many of their products showcase beloved Sesame Street Muppets like Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird. Kids can choose from an array costumes, accessories, t-shirts, fleece hoodies, pajamas and much more. These items are available at the Sesame Street online store (http://sesamestreet.tystoybox.com), Zehrs, Fortinos, and Loblaws in Canada.

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Nothing beats the original – Air Jordan 1, released in 1985.

Air Jordan shoes, fondly called as “Js” or “MJs,” is a brand of basketball shoes manufactured by Nike and endorsed by no other than the legendary Michael Jordan. Now, Air Jordan is especially distributed by the Jordan Brand, a branch of Nike. The first Air Jordan shoes were released in 1985, and since then 23 different versions of these shoes have been created.

Avid Air Jordan collectors categorize the shoes according to model and year of release. There are five classes of Air Jordans – Originals (OG), Player Exclusive, Retros, Retro-pluses (Retro +), and Samples. Aside from these, it has also released a collection of Team shoes, which is outside the Air Jordan line coverage. The line also occasionally manufactures signature shoes that were released before.

In 1984, Nike was stereotyped as brand for “white joggers.” The profits from their running shoes were slowly waning so the company thought of crossing the “sports border” in order to augment their sales. Nike saw an opportunity in the basketball world, and signed then-unknown NBA rookie Michael Jordan for a 5-year deal of $2.5 million.

Since then, Jordans have been a huge hit, both for Nike and Michael Jordan. The following are descriptions and successes of each model of Air Jordans from 1985 to the present:

Air Jordan 1. The release of the Air Jordan 1 revolutionized the basketball shoe industry because of its black and red details, which defied from the traditional white shoe. Although NBA banned Michael Jordan from wearing his shoes, he defied the rules and Nike was more than happy to pay the fine of $5000 per game. Michael Jordan’s spectacular performance, alongside his unique shoes, helped make the Air Jordan shoes a must-have for basketball aficionados. The Air Jordan 1 model, which was originally designed by Peter Moore, was re-released in 1994 and 2001. In 2008, a Retro 1 tribute in honor of Michael Jordan’s days as a baseballer for Birmingham Barons was released.

Air Jordan 2. This is the only pair of Air Jordans that is not in black and does not bear the Nike swoosh logo. Air Jordan 2, which was released after Michael Jordan’s rookie year (1987-1988), was inspired by a 19th century Italian woman’s boot.

Air Jordan 12 x Air Force 1

Air Jordan 3. This is said to be Michael Jordan’s favorite because he wore it during the 1988 Slam Dunk Championships which he later dominated. It was designed by Tinker Hatfield and features the new Jumpman logo and a visible air unit on the heel. In 2007, an Air Jordan 3 in a special color palette was released.

Air Jordan 4. This was released in 1984 and was designed by Hatfield. It was the first pair of Air Jordans to be released internationally. The shoe was re-released in 1999 and 2006.

Air Jordan 5. This shoe, released in February 1990, has a reflective tongue as its distinctive detail. The shoe’s design was inspired by the World War II Mustang fighter plane. In 2000 and 2006, retro versions of the shoe were released. In May 2009, DMP II, two Air Jordan 5s, will be released.

Air Jordan 6. This shoe, released in late 1990 and designed by Hatfield, was Jordan’s first NBA championship shoes. They were retired in 2000 and 2008.

Air Jordan 7. This was designed by Hatfield again and was released in late 1991. Michael Jordan wore a special Air Jordan 7 model during his 1992 Barcelona Olympics stint. The shoes were re-released in 2002, 2004, and 2006.

Air Jordan 8. This was released during the 1992-1993 NBA season. It was also known as the “flower-power” Air Jordan.

Air Jordan 9. Made available in 1993, Air Jordan 9 was the first shoe that was released after Michael Jordan’s retirement.

Air Jordan 10. Known as the “Comeback sneaker,” Air Jordan 10’s soles chronicled Jordan’s illustrious basketball career.

Air Jordan 11. This shoe, designed by Hatfield, was manufactured in hopes that Michael Jordan would wear it in a comeback in the NBA.

Michael Jordan with a pair of Air Jordan XX3shoes.

Air Jordan 12. This shoe was inspired by the Japanese flag Nisshoki and a 19th century woman’s dress boot.

Air Jordan 13.This shoe was designed by Hatfield and was released in 1997 and re-released in 2005.

Air Jordan 14. This shoe has over nine variations, and was inspired by Michael Jordan’s tattoo.

Air Jordan 15. This was the first shoe released after Michael Jordan’s second retirement in 1999.

Air Jordan 16. This was released during Michael Jordan’s 38th birthday in February 17, 2001.

Air Jordan 17. This shoe comes with a Jumpman embossed metal carrying case, which handles the shoes along with a CD-rom.

Air Jordan 18. Released in 2003, Air Jordan 18 became the shoe for Jordan’s last season in the NBA. It was designed by Tate Kuerbis.

Air Jordan 19. Inspired by the black mamba snake, it was released in 2004, after his third and final season in the NBA.

Air Jordan 20. The shoe was inspired by a motorcycle and is complete with the high-tech IPS cushion.

Air Jordan 21. This shoe was inspired by the world’s best touring automobiles. Consumers can choose from Zoom and Encapsulated air shoes.

Air Jordan 22. Designer Dwayne Edwards drew inspiration from the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. The Air Jordan 22 was released on March 24, 2007.

Air Jordan 23. The latest Air Jordan shoes are the first environmentally friendly Jordans produced.

Ever since the release of the Air Jordan 1 in 1985, Michael Jordan’s personalized shoe line (his life story, ideas, and hobbies are taken into account during the design process) has been one of the bestselling shoes in the world.

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Born of a tailor father and showroom model, Karan found her niche in fashion early on. Her first collection and runway show took place while she was in high school. As a sophomore in the famed Parson’s School of Design, she was taken in by renowned designer Anne Klein. When Klein died in 1974, Karan, who spent three years as the company’s associate designer, was named as heir to the fashion line. After 10 years of designing for Anne Klein, she decided to make a name for herself, thus the founding of DKNY in 1984.
The label was established by Karan and her late husband, Stephan Weiss. The New York-based label was a challenge to her, whose aim was to combine luxury and comfort without jeopardizing the style of her garments. Her philosophy regarding design is that her “creations begin and end with the body – its sensual expression, sense of security, and freedom of movement.”

Teen Icon Rachel Bilson designed a junior sportswear line for the brand named “Edie Rose for DKNY Jeans.”

So why is New York included in the label? Karan believes that the city “sets the pace and the attitude.”
She bases her designs on “seven easy pieces.” She dotes on creating garments which are interchangeable and can be worn together to create a chameleon of a look. Karan prides herself in making pieces which can transform flawlessly from morning to evening, from office wear to date wear, whatever season it is. Trademark DKNY pieces include leather, stretch, black cashmere, sculpting silhouettes, and molded fabrics Karan herself have developed.

She believes that the clothes she designs are not just about garments – it’s more of a lifestyle. Karan designs her collections by envisioning the modern, everyday woman, dressed in her garments from head to toe. The DKNY brand includes apparel shoes, bags and other accessories.

In fact, her desire to dress a woman from top to bottom gave birth to a number of DKNY accessories. Her answers to her own questions, “How do I dress the leg?” “What’s the right bra?” and “What’s the perfect glasses?” gave birth to the DKNY Hosiery, Intimates, Eyewear and Accessories. True enough, DKNY is a one-stop shop for a busy, chic woman.

Since its debut in 1984, the brand has branched out into many sub-labels, such as PURE, DKNY Jeans, DKNY Active, and DKNY Underwear. Her kids and grandkids in fact inspired her to create DKNY Juniors, DKNY Kids, and DKNY Baby.

Heroes Star Ali Larter is just one of the many celebrity endorsers of DKNY’s Be Delicious fragrance.

In 1992, Karan recognized the clothing needs of the men in the world – her late husband most importantly – and created DKNY Men. With the inspiration of her father, a custom tailor, the menswear line offered suits, dress wear, casual wear, formal wear, sports wear, and shoes. The very same year, she launched the DKNY Beauty Collection, which is famous for its skin care products and famous fragrances. Karan’s Beauty Collection flourished under the stewardship of her husband, who designed the perfume bottles and jars as well.

In 1996, DKNY became a publicly-traded venture. The following year, the label’s flagship store opened in London. In 1999, Karan opened a store in New York – along Madison Avenue and 60th Street. Two years later, Karan opened her DKNY boutique along West Broadway in SoHo.

Six years later, DKNY became a member of the LVMH family, or Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton, a French clothing corporation. While under the LVHM, Karan created the DKNY Home Collection and DKNY Life, which consists of classic and modern beddings and accessories respectively.

The year 2002 was monumental in Karan’s domination of the worldwide web, when she launched Stardoll.com, wherein users can buy and dress up their avatars in DKNY garments. In 2003, DKNY permanently etched its name in New York when Karan opened her premiere flagship store at 819 Madison Avenue.

DKNY widened its horizons by launching the online shopping feature in its website in 2005. Products sold in the DKNY online store range from the DKNY line, DKNY Jeans Women’s wear, Accessories, Underwear, Shoes, Baby Clothing, PURE Collection. In 2007, the DKNY Men’s wear was added to the online selection, completing to the men’s repertoire of jeans, underwear, eyewear, and watches which have been available in the website 2 years before.

Currently, there are over 100 DKNY, DKNY Jeans, and Donna Karan Collection stores worldwide. There are about 20 stores in China, Hong Kong and Shanghai, 4 in Dubai, and 2 boutiques in Vancouver and Montreal in Canada.

Now, as DKNY celebrates its 25th year in the fashion biz, Karan continues to design chic and comfortable clothing which has been the toast of the town for a quarter of a century now, and indubitably, a quarter of a century more.

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A sample from the Marc Ecko Collection.

More than just fashion and lifestyle – that’s what Ecko Unlimited is all about. The clothing label, founded by Marc Ecko (a.k.a. Marc Milecofsky), cashed in about $1.5 Billion in 2007 alone, making the brand one of the most bankable fashion lines in the industry. The label is now sold in over 5,000 retail shops across the country.

The company’s current golden status was a far cry from its humble beginnings. Ecko started his fashion venture in the early 1980’s as a shirt retailer. Starting with just six t-shirts and a can of spray paint in 1993, Marc Ecko, together with Seth Gerszberg and Marci Tapper, decided to set up shop in the quiet suburb of New Brunswick, New Jersey.

In 1996, he managed to enter the indie fashion business by releasing his first ad. The same year, his label was put under the limelight after he designed clothes for the movie Jurassic Park 2. To celebrate his business enterprise, Marc Ecko launched the company’s official website – www.eckounltd.com.

After thrusting his label to the cusp of fashion stardom, Mr. Magazine named Marc Ecko as one of the “50 Most Fascinating People in Menswear” in 1997. He would then be included in a number of lists, including New York magazine’s “Influentials” list, Crain’s New York Business “40 Under 40” list, DNR’s “Power 100 List,” Detail magazine’s list of “Most Powerful Men Under 38,” and JVibe magazine’s “Hot List.”

Marc Ecko didn’t disappoint the watchful eyes of fashion critics who named him “the next big thing in fashion” when his label reported a 100% increase in sales in 1998.

Former Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst was one of the first endorsers of Ecko footwear.

And from there on Ecko Unlimited skyrocketed and entered several business ventures. In 1999, Marc Ecko released his footwear collection, with then Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst as his endorser. The same year, the label made history by being the first design house to appear in a video game – Playstation’s Knockout Kings 2000.

At the dawn of the new millennium, celebrated director Spike Lee produced a short film and runway show for the company at the Council of Fashion Designer’s (CFDA) “Seventh on 6th” event. The same year, Ecko became an international brand after the company sent its first shipment to Japan.

In 2001, Marc Ecko expanded its reach by acquiring Zoo York, which is famous for its men’s and women’s street wear and skate accessories. He also launched the Marc Ecko Watch Collection, making the company an all-around fashion label.

The following year, Marc Ecko ventured into media and published Complex Magazine, a men’s style guide and lifestyle publication with a circulation of 340,000. He then unveiled his Ecko Boys collection – a clothing line for boys, toddlers and infants, in 2003. He also struck a deal with 50 Unit to help publicize and market G-Unit Clothing the same year.

The year 2004 was Marc Ecko’s biggest year yet because it was the year that signified his company’s mass expansion. They transferred their headquarters to a 275,000 sq. ft. loft in trendy Manhattan, New York. He then baptized a contemporary menswear collection he named Ecko Cut and Sew and launched Ecko Footwear for women. He also unveiled a complimentary collection to Ecko Boys – EckoRed Kids – which consists of cool and hip girls clothes.

In 2005, Marc Ecko joined the CFDA and became its youngest member. The following year, Marc Ecko announced a “massive retail roll-out.” He also had his hands on Ecko TV, an in-store and online video channel streaming shows made by consumers, and independent film and video makers. His media involvement doesn’t end there; he is also founded Marc Ecko Entertainment, a production company focused on interactive entertainment. The company, in coordination with Atari, unveiled a game named “Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.”

Two years later, the company, in coordination with Lucas films, made a “fashion tribute” of George Lucas’ celebrated movie series, Star Wars. The Luke, Darth Vader and Yoga-inspired tees were marketed under the Cut and Sew collection. In August of the same year he founded Complex Media Network, an ad network in charge of complex.com, slamxhype.com, karmaloop.com, karmaloop.tv, nahright.com, bastardly.com, nicekicks.com, and planetxbox.com.

Seemingly unstoppable, Marc Ecko unveiled a new jean line for women called Ecko MFG. This last venture is just one of his fashion collections, alongside Ecko Red (for women), Ecko Function (alternative sports and outerwear, Ecko Storage (bags and accessories), Marc Ecko Leather (leather goods), Marc Ecko Scopes (eyewear), among many others. Marc Ecko Enterprises is also the parent company of Avirex, a middle-class sportswear line.

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Nike trademarks the “Swoosh” logo and the “Just Do It” slogan.

Nike, the world’s leading supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, was the birth-child of University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman and runner Phil Knight. Founded in January 25, 1964 the company was originally named Blue Ribbon Sports and was a distributor for Japanese shoemaker Onitsuka Tiger. The company truly came from humble beginnings as Knight sold their products from his car during track meets.

During that same year the company reached a healthy profit of $8,000 and in two short years Bowerman and Knight opened its first retail store along Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California. In 1971, Blue Ribbon Sports severed its ties with Onitsuka Tiger and decided to create their own line of footwear.

In the summer of the same year, they released their first shoe which carried the famous “Swoosh” design called Nike, a name inspired by the Greek goddess of victory. With the popularity of their first sneaker, Blue Ribbon Sports released its first line of Nike Shoes in 1972; however it was not until 1978 when the founders officially named the company Nike.

Nike’s first original product was derived from Bowerman’s “Waffle” design. Bowerman conceived of different outsoles that would grip nicely to the new urethane track of the Hayward Field of the University of Oregon. Then, one Sunday morning, he got the ingenious idea of pouring liquid urethane into his wife’s waffle iron. This experiment became the forerunner of Bowerman’s famous 1974 Waffle Trainer.

After just 16 years in the biz, Nike dominated over 50% of the market share in the US athletic shoe market. As a result, Nike went public in December 1980. The company attributes its marketing success to its “word of foot” (taken from a Nike slogan in the late 1970’s) style of advertising, rather than expensive television commercials.

In October 1982, the company aired its first national television ad during the New York Marathon broadcast. The ad was created by Wieden & Kennedy, an agency based in Portland, Oregon. Dan Wieden, co-founder of the ad agency, was the one who thought of Nike’s famous slogan, “Just Do It,” which was used in a 1988 Nike campaign. The slogan, considered as one of the top five slogans of the 20th century, debuted in print media in July 1, 1988 on the pages of the San Franciscan Walt Stack.

Retired Basketball icon Michael Jordan with his world-famous Air Jordan shoe.

Now, Nike is the leading authority in sports equipment. Nike products range from track running shoes, jerseys, shorts, and base layers for athletes from different sport disciplines such as basketball, baseball, football, volleyball, tennis, golf, cycling, track and field, wrestling, lacrosse, and cheerleading. By diversifying their product line, the company was able to peruse a wide range of athletic sponsorships for a different array of sports. Some notable Nike endorsers include basketball legend Michael Jordan, tennis champion Roger Federer and golf star Tiger Woods.

Nike has also produced urban fashion clothing which has been popular with the youth. Recently, Nike has collaborated with Apple to come up a device which monitors a runner’s accomplishment through a radio device in the shoe which networks with the iPod nano.

Apart from popular products such as the Michael Jordan line, Nike has come up with special shoes for extreme sports such as skateboarding. Also the company’s innovative attitude toward footwear design and composition continues to flourish with Nike’s latest development of weight reducing components: the Flywire and Lunarlite foam.

True to its roots, Nike’s continues to run their 200-acre world headquarters near their birth home of Beaverton, Oregon. Their headquarters consist of 17 buildings each named after long-standing Nike endorsers like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe and Mia Hamm.

Roger Federer in his Nike shoes during a match.

Outside its manufacturing prowess, Nike is famous for being one of the three environmental-friendly companies in the world. In its quest for athletic development, Nike launched the SPARQ training program in 2004. It is heralded as one of the best training divisions in the U.S.

During 40 years in the industry, Nike has transformed from a small footwear company into a global business giant. Over the years the corporation has acquired several apparel enterprises such as Cole Haan, Hurley International, Converse Inc. and Umbro. With all of its accomplishments in the athletic apparel industry and the world market, it is no wonder why Nike continues to be the innovator business.

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Enyce Womens Clothing

The Enyce Clothing Company was founded in March of 1996. Co-Founded by Evan Davis, Tony Shellman, and Lando Felix, the three had been long plotting an urban and Hip-Hop lifestyle clothing line that pooled togethor their many years of fashion industry experience. The three co-founders of Enyce originally met in 1994 while working for International News, a Seattle-based sportswear company. In 1996, when all ideas for their line were developed and complete, the three launched their Enyce clothing venture in New York.

Pronounced “En-Nee-Chay” by some and “N – Y – C” by others, the Enyce name is phonetic spelling of N-Y-C. Debated by many, the Enyce name was meant to sound out “En-Nee-Chay.”

The Enyce brand made itself one of the most respected brands on Hip-Hop fashion’s retail market by 2000. The clothing brand even expanded into women’s wear with “Lady Enyce.”

Enyce Brown Track Jacket

Enyce Holding LLC was acquired by Liz Clairborne Incorporated for $114 million in 2003. Karen Murray, president of men’s wear for Liz Clairborne Inc, was carefully tracking a brand to buy out and found Enyce clothing to be her golden opportunity, buying all holdings from the Sport Brand International investment group.

At the time of purchasing, Enyce was raking in $95 million annually, competing successfully with labels such as Sean John and Rocawear.

A global fashion brand, Eynce has established business offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Los Angeles, Toronto (Canada), and Tokyo (Japan). The corporate headquarters for the Enyce brand is in the company’s initial city, New York City.

Enyce has stayed true to its heritage and remains trend setters in the market segment. Since its conception, Enyce knew that in order to be set apart from the other brands Enyce would have to rely of its authenticity: NOT relying on athletic looks and novelty jeans wear or logo driven product. The Enyce Man or Woman does now always want to dress casual, especially when everyone else is doing the same thing. Enyce Design is, therefore, the best mix of cutting edge fashion, sophistication, and high quality product rooted in American Sportswear.

Enyce Handbag

Enyce founder Tony Shellman’s personal philosophy is reflected in much of Enyce’s imaging – just be you. Although he recognizes the power of marketing and branding to influence others, Shellman also emphasizes that consumers should not be guided solely by marketing images, but rather they should guide marketers to create and develop representative products of their lifestyle — reflecting who they are and who they want to be.

“The building of a brand is a belief, a way, a thought process. It’s about bringing a brand to life — taking the intangible and making it tangible by gaining insight into our consumers and sharing ideas, experiences, and lifestyles. It’s not always about being number one or number two…sometimes it’s just about being a great, respectable brand that our consumers connect with. We have had an excellent start, and it’s our responsibility to build on that and take Enyce to a new level in the next chapter,” says Shellman.

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