For those in marketing, the mega sportswear brand Nike isn’t just about great basketball shoes—no, to branding gurus, it’s the Nike advertising and marketing initiatives that really count.
While Nike’s co-founder and chairman Philip Knight knew exactly what he was doing when he and Bill Bowerman founded the sportswear brand (then called Blue Ribbon Sports) in 1964 and started selling shoes out of a Plymouth Valiant at track meets, it is Nike’s marketing team that gets kudos in my books. From philanthropy to simply great commercials, the Nike advertising and marketing initiatives that have been seen around the world are nothing short of amazing.
Inspiring to anyone with an athletic bone in her body, these Nike advertising campaigns and branding moves prove that the company knows just as much about selling as it does about fantastic footwear.
50 Nike Advertising Initatives
50
Gorgeous Athlete Campaigns
The Nike Women 'Make Yourself' Ads Feature Strong and Sensual Shots
49
Hybrid Sportsvertising
Sports Ads Step Off The Field to Hit a Creative Home Run
48
Suspended Sports Campaigns
The Nike Be Free Ads Get You Ready for Some Spring Rejuvenation
47
Talcum Powder-Tossing in Ads
LeBron James in 'Chalk' for Nike
46
Bike Gang Lookbooks
The Tim Barber Nike Destroyer Catalog Focuses on a Sense of Belonging
45
Inflatable Logo Campaigns
These 'Nike Extreme Swoosh' Ads Market Magnified Experience
44
Statuesque Soccer Ads
The Nike ‘Write the Future' Campaign is Stirring
43
Athletic Art Shows
Nike Teams With INSA for Art Show
42
Epic Sports Ads
The Guy Seese 'Nike' Portfolio Showcases Athletes' Drive and Ambition
41
Men vs. Women Challenge Ads
Nike Fuels Sex Wars With New Campaign
40
Momentous Soccer Moment Ads
The Nike 'Write The Future' Commercial is of Epic Proportions
39
Cartooned Sports Stud Lookbooks
The Nike Sportswear LeBron James Collection is Drawn Together
38
Time-Traveling High-Tops
The 2011 Nike MAG Pays Tribute to the Footwear of Back to the Future II
37
Stop Motion Post-it Commercials
Nike Human Race 10K Sticky Notes
36
Muppetified Basketball
Nike Most Valuable Puppets Campaign is a Slam Dunk
35
Dramatic Sports Commercials
Nike ‘Fate'
34
Seriously Dedicated Sports Ads
Nike 'Basketball Never Stops: LeBron 24/7' Shows True Commitment
33
Extreme Sportvertising
Nike's New Team 6.0 Ads Rumble the Ground
32
Floating Footwear Advergaming
Levitating Nike Air Max Shoes Were Raced Using Users' Breaths
31
Nighttime Running Campaigns
Nike 'Lunar Runs' Encourages Chinese to Jog at Night
30
Parody Sports Virals
Nike Pro Exposes Cristiano Ronaldo, Pokes Fun at Nike
29
Funky NBA Cartoons
Lebron James Ventures into the Cartoon Business with ‘The LeBrons'
28
Questioning Decisions Campaigns
The LeBron James 'Rise' Commercial Addresses Fans' Concerns
27
Pop Star Sports Adverts
Nike: Music Runs Ellie Depicts the Athletic Side of the Singer
26
Star-Studded Schools
The Foot Locker and Nike 'The Educators' Commercial Steps up the Game
25
Badass Baller Movies
'The Black Mamba' Movie Pits Kobe Bryant Against Bruce Willis
24
Recycled Ad Campaigns
The Nike Better World Commercial Uses Only Previously Done Nike Ads
23
Earth-Shattering Shoes
The Nike Shox Ad Campaign Tears up the Ground
22
Inspiring Skater Videos
The Nike SB Zoom Paul Rodriguez 4 Commercial Lifts You Up
21
Puppetized Pro-Athletes
LeBron James Gets Animated For Nike MVPuppets Commercial
20
Endless Jogging Ads
Nike 'Never Stop Running' Campaign Promotes Its Dedication to the Activity
19
Mileage Tracking Apps
The Nike+ GPS App Tracks Challenges You to Run Farther and Longer
18
Epic Athlete Battles
The Nike Free Yourself Throwdown Ad Displays Intense Competition
17
Promotional Gamer Kicks
Nike and EA Come Together for the Nike Manny Pacquiao Fight Night
16
Stealth Paparazzi Ads
Gossip Girl Taylor Momsen Promotes Nike with Paps
15
Extreme Sports Crew Contests
Record Epic Skills for Nike's 'The Chosen' Facebook Campaign
14
Laced Charity Campaigns
The #EndAIDS (Nike) Red Laces Raises Awareness of the Disease
13
Midnight Extreme Sports Ads
The Nike Chosen: Just Do It Commercial Will Amp You Up
12
Sensory Deprivation Shades
Nike Vapor Strobe Eyewear Helps Enhance Senses and Motory Skills
11
Sportswear Soft Serve Trucks
Nike Sportswear Ice Cream Trucks Drives Around Neighborhoods in NYC
10
Epic Soccer Wear Ads
The Nike Soccer Ad Celebrates a New French Team
9
Intense Cricket Showdowns
The Nike Cricket Yards Ad Celebrates the Sport in an Epic Fashion
8
Midnight Wakeboard Sessions
The Nike 6.0 Retention Wakeskate Jam Shows Extreme Water Sports
7
Technicolor Sneaker Ads
The Brad Kremer Nike Hadar Film is an Artistic Dream Sequence
6
Celebratory Soccer Ads
Nike "The Future has Been Written" Commercial Celebrates Spain's Victory
5
Feel-Good Sports Shorts
The Spike Lee Nike Short Film Insists That ‘Everything is Practice'
4
Redemptive Athlete Ads
Tiger Woods Nike Commercial Offers Forgiveness in the Sign of the Swoosh
3
Sports Star Impact Ads
The 'Before and After Ronaldo' Nike Soccer Commercial Charts His Influence
2
Puppetvertising
NBA Champion Kobe Pokes Fun at LeBron in Nike Ad (UPDATE)
1
Branded Athletic Celebrations
Nike Festival of Sports Promotes Athleticism to Shanghai Youths
Related Ideas
Open-Stitch Designed Lifestyle Shoes
Nike Highlights a Look at the Killshot 2 Sneaker
Comfort-Inspired Men's Shoes
Nike Released Its Air Max Dn's with Dynamic Air Unit System
Retro-Inspired Sneaker Hybrids
Martine Rose and Nike Create a Hybrid Air Max Sneaker
Futuristic Sporty Patriotic Shoes
Nike Introduces a New Version of the Air Max Dn Shoe
Silver Foil Logo Sneakers
Nike's Air Max Pegasus 89 G Gets a Phoenix Open Colorway
Nostalgic Winter Intimates Campaigns
SKIMS' Holiday Campaign Was Inspired by Vintage Magazines
Stealthy Stitched Lifestyle Sneakers
Nike Introduces a Look at its New Killshot 2 Premium Sneaker
Tablet-Made Exclusive Sneakers
Nike Craetes an Exclusive Made on iPad Air Max 1 Shoes
Retail-Exclusive Stark Blue Footwear
These Nike Air Max 95 Trainers are Exclusive to JD
Sneaker-Stealing Campaigns
Rob It To Get It by Distance Challenged Customers to Outrun a Sprinter
Juxtaposing Dynamic Running Shoes
The adiSTAR Cushion Sneakers have a Retro Design
Supportive Coaching Programs
Nike Celebrates the 5th Anniversary of Play Academy with Naomi Osaka
Autism-Supporting Athletics Brands
Nike Partnered with the NBA for an Autism Awareness Campaign
Women's Sportswear Flip Flops
Nike Calm Flip Flops Now Arrive in Styles for Women
Olympics-Inspired Running Shoes
lululemon Debuts the Team Canada Beyondfeel Women's Running Shoe
Revived Mixed-Material Lifestyle Sneakers
Nike Breathes Life Back to the Air Terra Humara Sneaker
Boldly Tonal Patient-Designed Sneakers
Nike Unveils the 2024 Doernbecher Freestyle Collection
Football Boot-Inspired Sneakers
Nike Launches the Air Max Plus Tiempo Sneaker Model
Bounce-Based Performance Sneakers
Nike Unveils its Brand New Invincible 3 Sneaker Model.
Stark Tonal Typography Sneakers
The New Air Max Plus Mercurial XXV Boasts a Vibrant Look
Metallic Tinged Football Shoes
The Nike Tiempo Sneaker is Revived in Metallic Hues
Sporty Vibrant Collaborative Socks
MoMA and Nike Join Forces on the Everyday Sock
Minimal Contrasting Basketball Shoes
The Nike Air Jordan 14 Sneaker Model Gets a Black Toe Version
Pre-Worn Paint-Splattered Sneakers
A-COLD-WALL* and Nike Join on the Air Max Plus Sneaker
Progressive Athletic Sunglasses
The Nike Athena and Nike Zeus Have a Captivating Design
Sleek Low-Cut Lifestyle Sneakers
Nike Presents the New Court Shot Sneaker with Minimal Design
Data-Driven Textile Running Shoes
Nike Presents its New Motiva Silhouette for Running
Metallic Logo All-White Sneakers
Nike Unveils a New Sleek Tonal Air Max Pulse Sneaker Model
Premium Air-Tech Cushioned Runners
Nike's Pegasus Premium Elevates the Classic Running Shoe
Hug-Inspired Olympics Campaigns
Coca-Cola's Summer Olympics Campaign was Inspired by True Events
Emotional Poeticized Motorsport Campaigns
Honda Debuts the 'Unstoppable Dreams' Campaign
Next-Generation Runner Sneakers
The Nike Structure 25 Merges Comfort, Technology and Performance
Ugly Christmas Sweater-Inspired Shoes
Nike Readies for the Holidays with the Ugly Sweater Dunks
Gradient Tonal Collaborative Sneakers
LORENZ.OG Presents his New Nike Collaborative Sneakers
Athlete-Backed Shoe Campaigns
Nike Released Awaken Your Madness with International Soccer Players
Sports Brand Design Evolutions
The Vitra Design Museum will Host Nike: Form Follows Motion
Premium Low-Cut Lifestyle Sneakers
Nike Unveils a Stealthy Air Force 1 Low Paris Sneaker
Empowering Body-Confidence Sports Ads
Dove's 2024 Super Bowl Ad Will Inspire Young Girls
Collaborative Sportswear Collections
Nike and Off-White Drop yet Another Collection Together
Logo-Centric Soccer Campaigns
Apple Introduces the MLS Seasons Pass Campaign Visuals
Brand Heritage-Appreciation Campaigns
Timberlands Racy 'ICONIC' Campaign Honours Its Legacy
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Sporty Fashion Spring Campaigns
adidas Originals Introduces the 1000 Back Campaign
Basketball Team-Tonal Mid-Cut Sneakers
Nike Unveils a Hornets-Colored Air Jordan 1 Mid
Co-Branded Beverage Boxes
Jarritos and Nike Created a "Shoe Box" with Four Vibrant Flavors
Minimal Chunky Running Shoes
NAMESAKE Takes a Spin at a Pair of its Own adidas Sneaker for SS25
Footwear-Inspired Puzzle Brand Partnerships
Nike and LEGO Launch a Multiyear Partnership
Sunset-Inspired Tonal Sneakers
Nike Gives the Air Max DN a Gradient Sunset-Themed Palette
College Sports-Inspired Sneakers
Nike's Air Huarache “Oregon Ducks” Colorway is a Limited Release
Athletic Apparel Interactive Billboards
Gymshark Unveils the Shoplift Campaign Ahead of Sale
Lightweight Breathable Running Shoes
Nike's Pegasus 41 Blueprint is Designed for Road Running
Olympic-Inspired Skate Sneakers
The Nike SB Dunk Olympic Safari Honors the Global Games
Bulbous Dynamic Knitted Sneakers
Nike Shines a Spotlight on the Air Max Flyknit Venture
Athlete-Designed Basketball Sneakers
UNINTERRUPTED and Lebron James Unveil New Nike Lebron 20
Collossal Crocodile Campaigns
The Lacoste 'Play Big' Campaign Features Artists and Athletes
Dynamic Retro Running Shoes
Nike Brings Back the Air Pegasus 2005 Sneaker Model
Global Games-Inspired Sneakers
The New Air Jordan 6 Retro Shoes Get an Olympic Makeover
Activewear-Branded Smartphones
The Conceptual Adidas FOG Phone Highlights the Three Stripes Logo
Inclusive Sporty Collaborative Fashion
Feng Chen Wang Joins Nike on a New Collection
Cinematic Fashion Campaigns
Norse Projects Partners with Mikkel Karstad for Its New Campaign
Italy-Inspired Textural Sneakers
Nike Presents a Blue and White Air Max Plus Sneaker
Adaptable Road-to-Trail Sneakers
The Nike Pegasus Trail 5 Supports Athletic Agility
Spray-Painted Logo Sneakers
Nike Unveils Its New Blazer Mid ’77 with Spray-Painted Logo
Artist-Backed Breakdancing Sneaker
Futura Joins Nike to Decorate the Jam Sneaker Model
Nostalgic Timeless Sports Apparel
Reebok and ANINE BING Announce Exclusive Collaboration
Updated Sports Retail Strategies
Decathlon Announced Its New Purpose and Business Strategy
Designer-Backed Low-Cut Sneakers
adidas and Stella McCartney Create a New Court Boost
Streetwear-Informed Surfboards
Nike and Stüssy Work Together on a Special Surfboard Design
Nudist-Themed Sporty Fashion Campaigns
PUMA and NOAH Join Forces on a New Collection
Sporty Visual Fashion Campaigns
PUMA and NOAH Join Forces on a New Sporty Campaign Series
Chunky Olympic-Ready Sneakers
Nike Presents a New Olympic Colorway to the Uptempo
Vibrant Performance Football Shoes
Nike Presents the United Pack for Women's World Cup
Multi-Logo High-Top Sneakers
Nike Unveils Its Latest Blazer Mid ’77 Sneakers
Soda Logo Rebranding Campaigns
Pepsi's New Logo Goes Across the Globe with a Bright Light Show
Refuge Athlete Programs
Nike Joins Forces with the Olympic Refuge Foundation
Stylish Footwear Campaigns
Under Armour Targets Gen Z in its New 'Flex As You Go' Campaign
Olympic-Ready Elevated Footwear
Nike Optimizes its Air Cushioning Tech in New Range of Shoes
Sneaker Culture Radio Stations
Nike Created ON AIR.MAX for Nike Air Max Day
Breathable Eco-Friendly Sneakers
The National Geographic Launch the Contour Zero Sneakers
Creative-Focused Sportswear Campaigns
adidas Celebrates Creativity with Ama Qamata and Dee Koala
Revived Lifestyle Running Sneakers
Beauty & Youth Breathes Live Back to the NB 878 Sneaker Model
Creative-Backed Footwear Campaigns
G.H. Bass Introduces Its Stepping Out Campaign
Collaborative Textural Lifestyle Sneakers
New Balance Presents Another Technical 1906 Sneaker
Collaborative Multi-Material Sneakers
Nike and Stüssy Unveil a Special Pair of the LD-1000 Sneaker
Preppy Minimal Skate Sneakers
Nicole Hause Joins Nike on a Special Pair of Dunk Shoes
Content House-Backed Collections
FaZe Clan and Nike Debut a New Apparel and Footwear Collaboration
City-Inspired Basketball Jerseys
Nike's City Edition Uniforms are Inspired by NBA Courts
Sustainable Knitted Toddler Sneakers
Nike Launches the Swoosh 1 Trainer with Colorful Details
Neon Accented Lifestyle Sneakers
Nike Adorns its Air Max 95 Sneaker in a Greedy Colorway
Inclusive Marathon Campaigns
adidas Worked with Marathons to Support Neurodivergent Athletes
Denim-Colored Logo Sneakers
Nike Unveils Air Force 1 with "Just Do It" Slogan and Denim Logo
Retro-Tinged Revived Football Shoes
Nike Brings Life Back to its Field General Sneaker Model
Mindful Athletic Brand Initiatives
Nike's 'Wellness Collective' Promotes 5 Key Wellness Pillars
Footballer-Backed Global Campaigns
Pepsi Unveils the 'Where There's a Ball There's a Way' Campaign
Sporty Upcycled Vintage Collections
Nike Relaunches the Re-Creation Program in London and Paris
Connected Beer Jerseys
Miller Lite's Running of the Beer Ads Turns Fans into Walking Billboards
Athlete-Inspired Dramatic Sneakers
Nike and Off-White Join Forces on the Sheed Air Force 1 Mid
Heritage Brand Boot Ads
Blundstone Launches Global Campaign Celebrating Personal Boot Stories
Chinese Festival-Inspired Sneakers
Nike's Air Max Plus Celebrates China’s Longtaitou Festival
Stealthy Monochromatic Court Sneakers
Nike Unveils a Look at the Minimal Killshot 2 Sneaker
Adventurous Luxury Fashion Campaigns
Louis Vuitton's Core Values Campaign Features Tennis Legends
Sweat Fleece Sporty Campaigns
Nike's Don’t Sweat the Tech-nique Campaign Readies for Fall 2023
London-Inspired Sporty Campaigns
Nike Presents the Pulse of London Campaign Honoring the City
Chicken-Centered Campaigns
KFC Released a Campaign Called 'Believe in Chicken'
Ketchup Obsession Campaigns
'It Has to Be Heinz' Spotlights Fans' Intense Love of Heinz Products
Neutral-Toned Patterned Sneakers
Nike's Air Rift Silhouette Joins the 'United in Victory' Lineup
Travel-inspired Brand Campaigns
Michelin Launches the On the Road and Beyond! Campaign
Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads
The Coca-Cola Family is Spotlighted in this Unique Ad
Sporting Moment-Inspired Fall Fashion
Admiral Sporting Goods Presents its New Capsule for FW23
Celebrity Sportswear Capsules
Adidas Unveils the 'Z.N.E. Collection' for its New Sportswear Label
Bold Sports Apparel Campaigns
New Balance Unveils 'We Got Now' Campaign Featuring Shohei Ohtani
Sneaker-Resembling Leather Wallets
These Nike Cardholders are Reminiscent of Its Sneakers
Coastal-Inspired Blue Sneakers
BornxRaised Launch its Own Iteration of the SB Dunk Sneakers
Reversed-Themed Classic Sneakers
Nike Introduces the New Icon Flip Collection of Sneakers
Elevated Contemporary Sportswear Lines
Admiral Sporting Goods Co. Re-Interprets Classic Designs
Anniversary-Celebrating Storytelling Ads
The Walt Disney Company Mark Marvel's 85th Anniversary
Repeating Patterned Lifestyle Sneakers
Nike Launches a United in Victory Version of the AF 1s
Active Lifestyle Retailer Ranges
The Sports Edit on M&S Now Features Reebok and Puma
Lifestyle Basketball Sneaker Partnerships
New Balance Unveils More 550 Sneaker Collaborations
Global Storytelling Initatives
Vans Announces its Narrative-Centric Always Pushing Campaign
Men's Mesh Running Shoes
Nike Released Its Nike Air Max Plus Featuring a Flame-like Caging Design
Singer-Collaborative Retro Sneakers
Nike and Billie Eilish Create a New Air Alpha Force 88
Athlete-Centric Bingo Campaigns
The 'Share Your Bingo Moment' Campaign Spotlights Olympic Legends
Body Confidence Coaching Programs
Dove & Nike are Launching Body Confident Sport for Girls
Empowering Mental Health Football Ads
adidas Debuts Short Film 'You Got This'
Skateboarding-Inspired Ads
Vans Launched the ‘Always Pushing’ Ad Highlighting Skating Culture
Athlete-Inspired AI Brand Campaigns
AngelAi Taps a Groups of Athletes to Promote Its Ethos
Star-Adorned Chunky Shoes
Golden Goose Unveils the 'Marathon' Sneaker and Star-Studded Campaign
College Football Ad Campaigns
Aflac Partners with Nick Saban and Deion 'Coach Prime' Sanders
Athlete-Backed Sports Apparel
Tiger Woods and TaylorMade Golf Team Up to Launch Sun Day Red
Short Film-Inspired Ads
Apple’s New ‘The Underdogs’ Ad Features Various Apple Products
Celebrity-Endorsed Sneaker Campaigns
Foot Locker and Flo Milli Partner for 'Start with Sneakers'
Stylistic Footwear Campaigns
Bata Launched its 'Make Your Way' Campaign with a Focus on Comfort
Empowering Soccer-Inspired Campaigns
Gatorade Has Partnered with Renowned Soccer Icons
Vibrant Runner-Targeted Commercials
PUMA Southeast Asia Debuts a Community-Based Video Campaign
Love-Inspired Tennis Brands
Love All Boasts a Collection of Stylish and Functional Activewear
Purposeful Brand Transformations
Decathlon Unveils a New Brand Identity, Logo and Brand Purpose
Mental Health Branding Initiatives
L.L.Bean Digitally Detoxed for Mental Health Awareness Month
Slogan-Detailed Graphic Tee Capsules
Soho Yacht Club Suggests to Do Something Nice Today
Sports Teams-Inspired Sneakers
adidas Unveils New Sneakers Honoring New York Sports Teams