Rappers to Forrest Gump, and everyone in between, have owned or longed to own a pair of iconic Nike Cortez sneakers. Once heralded as the paragon of running shoe brilliance, this humble sneaker has matured into a streetwear must-have that is set to supplant to adidas’ cash cows as this summer’s most covetable shoe.
Its unique silhouette has its roots in late ‘60s design, the same decade which birthed the court sneaker. Unlike its sleeker counterpart, the Cortez provides more of a feast for the eyes with its curves and ridges. That together with its reimagined build in nylon has made it a mainstay for LA natives first, and pop culture acolytes second. The shoe’s reworking in the mid-‘70s, which saw the introduction of nylon uppers, made it a lightweight running shoe that long distance runners gravitated towards. Fast forward some 20 years and lovable fictional character, Forrest Gump, credited them (the Nike Classic Cortez) for helping him achieve his cross country goal.
For the guys
On the streetwear side of things, the shoes got their first big boost when Farah Fawcett wore them on an episode of Charlie’s Angels, catapulting them to fame. Elton John followed in her footsteps a few years later by wearing them on stage at a sold-out concert, and Whitney Houston did likewise at her 1991 Superbowl halftime performance. By the ‘90s the shoe had become a staple among regular folk on the street and celebs alike.
For the girls
Playing up its heritage and recasting it as a streetwear essential, Nike tapped supermodel Bella Hadid to create renewed interest around the Cortez to commemorate its 45th birthday. The campaign included homage to the famous image of Farah Fawcett skateboarding downhill in a pair, as well as new models sporting the latest tech.
Check out our top 5 sneakers post where we listed the Cortez as our top sneaker pick for summer
Image sources:
Nike Brings Back The Original Cortez, But Don’t Call It The “Forrest Gump” Shoes
Bella Hadid Adds Another Campaign to Her Resume, Channeling Farrah Fawcett for Nike
Bella Hadid Brings Back a Classic Nike Sneaker from the 70’s
