Before there was Nike, there was Blue Ribbon Sports. In January of 1964, Nike co-founders Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman created Blue Ribbon Sports as a distributor for Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger (now known as Asics), selling running shoes at track meets out of Knight’s car. In January of 1967 they opened a running specialty store, Blue Ribbon Sports at 3107 Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California. Blue Ribbon Sports officially became Nike, Inc. on May 30, 1971.
Nike is commemorating the anniversary of Blue Ribbon Sports with a limited-edition ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT%. The new running shoe combines two of Nike’s most innovative technologies, ZoomX foam and VaporWeave material, with a responsive carbon fiber plate underfoot designed to help improve pacing. As a nod to the original BRS Santa Monica storefront, a “blue marker” scribble print covers the white upper with the Pico Boulevard address, old shoe boxes, race bibs and more.
The Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% Blue Ribbon Sports comes out January 25 on nike.com and at specialty retailers nationwide, including BRS 3107 Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California.
