Originally called the Tiger Corsair, this model was renamed the Cortez in 1972, after the partnership between Nike - known as Blue Ribbon Sports at the time - and Onitsuka Tiger broke down.

Over the years, the Cortez has also undergone several design changes. The original leather model featured a heel pull and was produced in nylon and suede in the 1970s. Nike also released a version for women, the Senorita Cortez, which had a narrow rounded toe-piece and fewer shoelace holes that the regular Cortez. An edition with a leather snake-skin swoosh and Escape models were then released on to the market in the late 1980s. The cortez was reissued in Europe in the mid-1990s.

In 2003, Nike tried something new using the Internet: the Nike ID system. This gave consumers the opportunity to choose their own Cortez colourway online from a whole range of colour combinations.

Nike Cortez

First Released: 1972
Original Purpose: Running
Example Shown: Reissues
Notes: The Cortez was worn by Tom Hanks in the film Forrest Gump.

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