2000 Nike Leather Cortez B White/Light Zen Grey

Condition: Never worn, slight yellowing due to age. Comes with same era replacement box.

Size: 12M

Release Year: 2000

As classic as it gets. The Nike Cortez have been a staple in Nike's catalog for over 50 years. Designed by co-founder Bill Bowerman, they were the first ever track shoe Nike released. Phil Knight tells the story of how the Cortez got its name in his memoir Shoe Dog. The 1968 Olympic games held in Mexico were right around the corner, and Bowerman came up with "The Aztec," a homage to the Mesoamericans who inhabited what eventually became Mexico. However, Adidas had already released a track shoe called the Azteca Gold. "Who was that guy who kicked the sh*t out of the Aztecs?" Bowerman asked Knight. "Cortez".

This pair has an incredible vintage look and feel. The entire upper is comprised of tumbled leather, while the nylon tongue provides the only contrast in material. The heel and bottom of the eyelet both contain embroidered swooshes, which was more common to see on Cortez from this era. The signature characteristic is without a doubt the perforated outline swoosh. A very minimalist, yet noticeable approach to a design that places such emphasis on the swoosh.

Although never worn, this pair is over 20 years old and to be worn with care as with all vintage footwear. 100% wearability cannot be guaranteed and these may need to be re-glued after initial use.