I still remember my first pair of Nike sneakers. When I was seven years old, my family took a day trip to the Oregon coast.  In my haste to run through the freezing cold tide, I left my sneakers too close to the surf and by they time I was looking for them, they had been swept out to the Pacific, never to be seen again.  After a lengthy scolding from my mother, and a painful barefooted hike back to the car, we drove to the nearest Fred Meyer to buy me some replacement shoes. I vividly remember the feeling of shame and humiliation I felt, even as a seven year old, walking through the store on the cold scuffed tile floor with no shoes.  Soon, however,  my embarrassment was quickly replaced with sheer joy when my mother told me I could get the black and white Nike sneakers. Looking back on the situation now, I’m not even sure why I was so excited to get Nikes.  I don’t remember how or why I even knew what Nikes were. But that is exactly what defines the Nike brand. The Nike brand has permeated the very psyche of our culture without us even being aware.

The Nike brand is like no other.  Its reach is international and cross cultural and its revenue is unmatched.  Having been born right here in the United States, the Nike brand is as American as apple pie; its history, however, is a tad more bittersweet.

Rare Pinwheel Nike Windbreaker, Monster Vintage

In 1962 Philip Knight saw the need for an American competitor in the mostly German dominated athletic shoe market. The Oregon University undergraduate track star knew from personal experience that current athletic shoes lacked two things: the comfort and increased performance standard needed for athletic activity.  He soon created his own company, which employed only himself, and named it Blue Ribbon Sports to satiate the concerns of his Japanese suppliers.  Like most men of genius, Knight spent an abnormal amount of time in his father’s basement for the next few months, tweaking the Japanese sneakers. The following year right around the same time his parents began thinking he might have turned into some weird cellar dwelling loser, Knight began peddling the Japanese shoes out of the back of his car at track meets in the area.  Bowerman, a former track coach of his, saw potential in Knight’s vision and invested $500 dollars in Blue Ribbon Sports.  These days, $500 wouldn’t even be enough to upgrade your hella sweet sound system, but it was all Knight needed to continue and grow his hobby, turned obsession, turned career, and eventually, turned brand superhero.

Super Rare NIKEMAN Tee, Monster Vintage

The Blue Ribbons Sports brand grew successfully over the next few years and was almost as popular as its fellow Oregon basement-born product, desoxyephedrine (more commonly known as crystal meth).  Fortunately, Knight’s shoes were much less detrimental to your health and a bit less expensive.  In 1966 he opened up the first retail location in the promise land of materialist America, Santa Monica, California.  Fueled by relatively small but healthy sales, Blue Ribbon Sports severed it’s connection with the Japanese supplier and was about to retail its first exclusive shoe. The product was a soccer shoe, dubbed, quite unceremoniously at the time, Nike.  It would be the first to bear the now famous Nike swoosh.  The swoosh was designed by a young Portland State University student and sold to Knight for a measly $35, in what would later be called the steal of the millennia.  In 1972, Bowman would create the first original Nike design. The legendary “waffle” shoe which was made by pouring rubber into a waffle iron.  The shoe was so revolutionary, no one bothered to ask why exactly Bowman was eating rubber waffles for breakfast.  Instead, they were mesmerized by the textured sole that provided flexibility while simultaneously offering a previously unrivaled level of traction. The “waffle” shoe was released as the Moon Shoe, and set Nike apart as THE innovators and designers for athletes.  The brand continued to expand, create, and excel throughout the 70’s, and a jogging craze late in the decade gave the company the boost needed to establish themselves as a prominent US brand.

80’s Vintage Nike Waffle Runners, Monster Vintage

In 1979, the newly anointed Nike Inc moved to its headquarters in our very own Portland, Oregon and three years later, would hire the then-fledging Portland ad agency Wieden+Kennedy as their main marketing squeeze. The relationship between these two Portland power mavens would prove to be like any other passionate romance: fun, creative, historical, and almost indecently fruitful.

Wieden+Kennedy developed Nike into the superstar brand that it is today through ingenious and original marketing strategies.  For example, Wieden is credited with coining the slogan “Just Do It,” but the exact origin of the phrase is slightly hazy.  Some insist it was in an 1988 meeting that Wieden almost absently mindedly said of the Nike exec’s business sense, “You Nike guys, you just ‘do it.’”  The slogan is also rumored, however, to have a more morbid origin. And according to some, Wieden modeled it after the last words spoken by a convicted murderer moments before his execution by firing squad.  The murderer’s name was Gary Gilmore, a Portland native, who when asked for any last words exclaimed, “Let’s do it!” No doubt, with all the fervor and determination of a seasoned athlete.  Nike neither confirms nor denies these rumors, with all the coyness of a secretive school girl.

80’s Nike Runner Silver Tag Tee, Monster Vintage

Wieden+Kennedy also influenced Nike to be the first sports brand to sign and advertise with major athletes. From Olympic runners to Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and later the U.S. Women’s Soccer team, Nike would transcend all athletic arenas and were incredibly successful at reaching young people through their sports idols. So successful in fact, that in the 1990’s, following an incredibly successful ad featuring Michael Jordan and director/actor Spike Lee in which Lee declared, “It’s gotta be the shoes,” young people all over the country were getting mugged and even murdered for their $115 Air Jordans, giving the term “I’d kill for those,” frightening undertones. Even more shocking, was that these occurrences were not limited to just the United States, with muggings and violence happening in South America, Europe, and Japan.  The backlash over the violence was swift and hefty, with some critics focusing the blame on brand powerhouse Nike, and even celebrities Jordan and Lee.  Whether or not Nike and its affiliates shared any of the blame in these horrific incidents was a matter of opinion.  What wasn’t opinion, however, was the reach and irreversible permeation of the Nike brand across the globe.  It was officially fact: Nike had arrived with all the pomp and circumstance of the NCAA in March.

Nike 1980’s Work Blue Tag Nike Tee, Monster Vintage

While Nike never condoned violence, the Air Jordan controversy would not be the first controversial marketing strategy the company would employ. Nike signed athletes for what some people claimed were egregious amounts of money, and in turn, the athlete turned over his or her decision making abilities. In some circumstances, Nike decided where they lived, what they ate, what they wore, who they dated and probably what Saturday morning cartoons they watched.  Signing with Nike was like dating the hottest girl in school, emasculating and controlling, but what happened in the chemistry supply closet made it soooo worthwhile. Some were shocked at the level of control Nike exercised over their athletes, but the company argued that it was more than a brand; Nike was a lifestyle, an attitude.  The attitude being young, hip, cool, determined, and constantly pushing boundaries.  When Nike launched it’s “Just Do It” slogan, it came out with a series of sexually suggestive ads geared towards women that outraged some more conservative critics. More recently Nike released several commercials that were banned in various countries. And in the wake of the Tiger Woods scandal, Nike was one of his only sponsors that remained loyal, a controversial decision.  But in all honesty, Tiger Woods did “Just Do It,” better than anyone.  Even as recently as 2011, Nike came out with a series of tee shirts that they claimed featured popular extreme sports phrases such as “Dope,” “Get High,” and “Ride the Pipe.” After sharp criticism that the shirts promoted drug use, Nike pulled them from production and sale, but left behind a residue of discussion and interest in it’s wake–typical of the Nike brand and attitude.

80’s Rare Rough Front Nike Hoodie, Monster Vintage

Nike has not just lit up in popularity in America; the brand has achieved incredible success in Japan, where any recognizable American label is considered exceptionally hip.  In the mid 90’s, for example, year old Nike designs which originally sell for around $120, were being sold for as much as $1,400.  This trend of being “unique,” has since crossed over to the United States, and Nike has done a brilliant job capitalizing on it.  They are continually releasing limited editions resulting in huge lines on release days and inflated eBay prices for years afterwards.  Today, 80% of the athletic shoes purchased are not actually used for athletic activity, and there is no doubt Nike had a strong hand in creating this aesthetic.

Nike continues their magnificent marketing strategy today and has advertisements that cover the scope of society and life.  Their commercials have become world famous for leaving even the most seasoned, self-actualized consumer with tingling in their toes.  Seeing Nike as the primed and mature company today, it’s hard to imagine what a young Nike brand looked like. With these vintage Nike products, it’s your chance to own a piece of raw, unrefined Nike.

Very Rare 78-79 HIKE NIKE Tee, Monster Vintage

Very Rare 1979 FLY NIKE Tee, Monster Vintage

Rare Finds, Part 3

Item # 7038

(click image to enlarge and for item number)

This little baby is AMAZING, especially given my affinity for military and marching band jackets. She’s designer, and from the 80’s and dripping with GOLD! And padded, embellished shoulders? Come ON! So fresh and modern still, considering that Philip Lim, Balmain and Marc Jacobs have all done reworked military jackets in recent years. It’s very “In loving memory of Michael Jackson,” dontcha think?
The price tag for this baby is pushing $500, which is still less than it’s modern designer counterparts and a very lovely find!
Sally “Forward March” Mulligan

Rare Finds, Part 2

As anyone who collects rare vintage clothing or other items knows, quality items at a fair price are hard to come by. When collecting vintage clothing or antiques, the condition of the item is very important. Today we want to show you a very rare piece that we have for sale here at Monster Vintage.
Item # 16282

(click on picture for item number)

This stunner is from the 1940’s, with tiers of gorgeous fringe top to bottom, with sequined straps and trim. Truly a rare find, in excellent condition, and great for a night out on the town. Could you not see this dress on a fashionable starlet strutting the red carpet?
Do you have any lovely vintage items in your closet? We would love to see! Send us your pictures and shop for rare vintage here!

Sally “Wannabe Flapper” Mulligan

Michael Jordan- The Greatest

With the recent induction of Michael Jordan into the Basketball Hall of Fame, it is necessary to mention the coveted Jordan brand by Nike.  The Jordan brand is what Lexus is to Toyota, it’s what Maybach is to Mercedes. It is an international symbol of the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball. Movie stars, singers, actors and just about everyone else will wear an item of Jordan, not only to look cool, but it is as if the wearer owns a piece of Michael Jordan himself, to “Be Like Mike”.  Above is a rare Jordan brand T-shirt before the official start of the Jordan line of products. The proof of this is on the tag: you see two symbols, one is the Nike sign and the other the Jordan silhouette. Vintage Jordan products include both symbols whereas modern Jordan only shows the Jordan symbol. Currently, the Jordan brand is “retro-ing” all the Jordan line from shoes to clothes by combining modern fashion with 80’s colorways and prints. Retro is comin’ back!

Jordan items are hot stuff and only one piece remains so better get in quick. It’s a Space Jam shirt and it will go great with a the new pair of Air Jordan 11’s Space Jam Edition due to be released this December. Check it out by clicking the link below:

Rare Vintage, Part 1

I'm the Greatest!
This is an incredibly rare photo shirt from the 70’s. The front features a still from the infamous Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier fight.
Isn’t it stunning?
The thing that makes a collector’s item such as this truly incredible is, in addition to being truly hard to find, is that it is in mint condition.
What’s in your collection, readers? Any scores that you want to tell us about?
Check out our rare finds sections for men and women.