Find Out Where Nike Shoes Are Made in 2023

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Nike shoes are incredibly popular all across the world. That familiar checkmark logo has become a cultural icon in the western world, but where are Nike shoes made in 2023?

American shoe company Nike manufacturing their trademark products in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Since their founding back in 1964, Nike has continued to grow in popularity with the American public and across the world. The rest of this article will discuss how Nike shoes are made, where they’re produced, and how to make sure you’re getting an authentic Nike product.

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Nike Brand History and Overview

Originally founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports, Nike was conceptualized by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. The name Nike comes from, well, Nike herself. Hailing from Greek mythology, Nike was the personification of victory.

Over the years, victory accurately describes Nike’s growth as a company, with the brand claiming numerous products such as Nike Blazers, Air Force 1, Air Max, and Nike+. The company started off small in Eugene, Oregon, originally playing distributor for Onitsuka Tiger, a Japanese shoemaker.

Nike, then called Blue Ribbon Sports, earned $8000 in gross profit from its first year of business and grew to $20,000 by 1965. In 1971, Blue Ribbon Sports discontinued its relationship with Onitsuka Tiger and rebranded as Nike, sporting the brand- new Swoosh logo designed by Carolyn Davidson.

Following a successful ad campaign in the ’70s, Nike expanded their product line to accommodate many sportswear items. To date, Nike produces a range of sportswear products from basketball shoes to jerseys to shorts, as well as some street fashion clothing and collectibles.

When Was Nike Created?

Nike was created in 1964 under the name Blue Ribbon Sports. Founder Phil Knight had just completed his MBA at the University of Oregon, where he ran for the track and field team under coach Bill Bowerman.

Unlike many other coaches, Bowerman had a vested interest in making sure his runners’ footwear was up to standard and was constantly tinkering to improve on their designs.

Knight, an average runner at the time, was the perfect candidate to test out Bowerman’s custom-made shoes. According to legend, the shoes worked so well that star runner Otis Davis wound up using them to take gold in the 1960 Olympics 400-meter dash.

Knight’s interest in sportswear didn’t stop there, though. During his MBA program at Stanford, he wrote a paper theorizing that Japan would be a cheaper labor center than Germany for the production of running shoes.

Putting his theory to the test, Knight went in 50-50 with Coach Bowerman to import the popular Tiger brand of Japanese running shoes into the U.S. Blue Ribbon Sports was subsequently established in Eugene, Oregon, in January of 1964.

Are Nike Shoes Made in the USA?

Nike shoes are not made in the USA. All Nike shoes are made overseas at sneaker manufacturers in China, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. The footwear manufacturing process is streamlined among a number of sustainable, cost-efficient industry locations that provide finished goods for Nike.

The reason, quite simply, hearkens back to Knight’s original philosophy of saving money on labor and production costs by partnering with Japan: outsourcing is cheaper. Manufacturing factories in Asian countries are often the answer for companies worldwide looking to save on labor and manufacture a pair of Nike shoes for a lot less.

Considering the success of shoes made in China and Vietnam, Nike isn’t likely to stop producing tennis shoes, Nike sneakers, or other Nike products in another country anytime soon.

Other Countries That Make Nike Shoes

The debate of ethical labor practices aside, there are a number of other related countries that serve as suppliers to manufacture Nike’s finished goods and accessories. Indonesia, China, and Vietnam comprise 96% of the shoes manufactured, with several other countries contributing to Nike’s company stock worldwide.

China

The biggest supplier of Nike shoes, China has 72 reported factories where Nike shoes are made by factory workers on location for a reduced cost. These manufacturing products are shipped to Nike stores around the world, and the materials are used to make quality brands of apparel for Nike’s production line.

The manufacturing process at the shoe production factories in China and Vietnam is a cold cement assemble, after which the upper part of the shoe is attached with glue using powerful mechanical pressure. Once completed, the sewing, sock lining, and finishing are wrapped up.

Vietnam

Manufacturers in Vietnam have also produced many shoes for Nike due to the low labor cost of factory workers and the wider availability of materials in the country.

Nike sneakers manufactured in other countries like Vietnam are check for quality before leaving the country to be sold at retain stores worldwide, most of them in the USA.

A List of Other Countries Where Nike Shoes Are Made

Most of the Nike sneakers are made in China or Vietnam, but there are lots of other countries where Nike has shoes made, including the following:

China
Vietnam
Indonesia
Italy
India
Japan
Thailand

Most of these countries have lower labor cost, making it easier to find workers and manufacturing facilities for Nike products.

Nike shoes made in China and other worldwide locations like India are still made to the same fashion standard for sustainable production. With that being said, Nike shoes made overseas have been the subject of online critics for a long time. Back in 1991, Nike was exposed for running manufacturing sweatshops that paid below-minimum wages, relied on child labor, had terrible working conditions, long hours, and numerous health hazards. As of 2007, Nike has made great strides to improve their standing with the public regarding their manufacturing factories. Nike offered a list of all 700 factories that manufactured shoes and other quality apparel brands.

To date, Nike is certified under the Fair Labor Association Workplace Code of Conduct, although there are still some online rumors that they pay their workers minimum wage, among other related scandals.

Nike has also made strides towards protection the environment with their Move to Zero campaign, aimed at reducing the amount of waste produced by sneakers and shoe manufacturing facilities. To do this, they’re recycling worn athletic shoes and apparel, encouraging customers to do the same. Many Nike shoes made today are refurbished, offering a more sustainable step towards the goal of zero carbon emissions

Tips for Buying Genuine Nike Shoes

If you’re trying to search for a pair of quality Nike shoes made with high-quality materials, then we’ve got the answer for you.

Packaging

The packaging on Nike products is extremely important. Nike shoes made for footwear apparel will always come in an original Nike box. Fakes are shrink-wrapped in clear plastic or don’t have a box at all.

Condition

All Nike shoe products are made with high-quality materials to make the best footwear. To ensure that you’re getting Nike shoes made from an authentic source, check to feel how soft they are. Real shoes will always feel softer than fakes because they are made from real leather, which gives them a soft feel.

On the other hand, fake Nike shoes are made with synthetic leather, which doesn’t feel as soft. The midsoles of fake Nike shoes manufactured at a copycat factory will have visible dots that reflect the lack of quality. Lastly, real Nike shoes will always be fully laced, while fakes will only be laced on every other hole.

Check the SKU Code

The SKU code on the box should always match the SKU code on the authentic footwear item or athletic sneaker you’re buying. If there are no numbers or they don’t match, then you’re likely looking at a fake.

Shop Carefully Online

For best results, avoid third party sellers unless they are reputable in your search for new Nike sneakers. Brands claiming to be Nike will often post stock photos, but these don’t accurately represent the way the shoe was manufactured.

Nike shoes manufactured properly should be bought directly from Nike or in person at a reputable sneaker store. Visit their website directly if you want to purchase an authentic Nike shoe or accessories.

Final Thoughts

Nike is one of those brands that has been around for a long period of time, and their popularity shows no signs of stopping. Their sneaker brands have benefitted a lot from the visionary designs of two men, along with a lot of profitable endorsements by celebrities.

Most Nike shoes are still manufactured in factories China, although factories in Indonesia and Vietnam also play a large role in providing accessories to fill Nike’s massive demand for products.

Over the years, Nike has been in some hot water and had to answer for their poor business ethics, but for the past two decades or so, Nike has put a lot more effort into promoting fair labor practices and increasing sustainability.