In Greek mythology, Nike was known to be the Goddess of speed, strength, and victory. In modern culture, Nike is known as the glorious sneaker and sportswear brand which happened to take the name of the Greek Goddess of Victory and later developed the design of the infamous Nike “Swoosh,”, based on the wings of the famed Goddess.
Until 1972, when Title IX in the Education Amendments was passed by the U.S. Congress, there was no gender equality in high school or college sports.
In 1978, Nike ran the first series of ads featuring women on the back cover of Runner’s World magazine.
In the early 1980s, Nike focused on highlighting and honoring women once the International Olympic Committee voted to include a Women’s Marathon in the 1984 Summer Olympics, resulting in Joan Benoit Samuelson’s historic and groundbreaking victory – a moment that forever changed the creative vision for athletic brands like Nike.
As the ’80s progressed, women grew more connected to sports and fitness, forcing brands to address the everyday female athlete and design a greater range of women’s athletic footwear and apparel.
The new surge of interest in female designed sneakers resulted in Nike’s iconic Air Force III print advertisement: “Who Said Woman Was Not Meant To Fly.”
WHO SAID WOMAN WAS NOT MEANT TO FLY.
“The Women’s Nike Air Force III. It’s supportive. It’s comfortable. And it fits on a woman’s foot like no other basketball shoe.
All because it’s designed specifically for a woman.
More specifically, for a woman who has no fear of flying.”
Since then, Nike has continued to make big pushes in favor of the fast-growing, female consumer with female Jordan collabs, new silhouettes designed for women, and media campaigns meant to speak to the woman athlete, sneaker collector, or style enthusiast.
Nike Air More Money Meant To Fly
Released on 2018-11-11, the Air More Money Meant To Fly was designed to honor the old school Women’s Basketball ad spreading the same “meant to fly” message in the design of the sneaker.
On February 24, 2019, Nike released a powerful campaign highlighting the success of all-female athletes, garnering all the praise online.
Show them what crazy dreams can do. #justdoit pic.twitter.com/3fo2XMVkBT
— Nike (@Nike) February 24, 2019
So who said woman is not meant to fly? In fact, it is rooted in the genesis of the Nike brand; from the Winged Goddess of Victory to the Nike Swoosh and everything in between, Nike has proven that the female sneaker buyer is just as important (if not more) as the male sneaker buyer.
