2 Reasons Why Nike Cortez is a Pop Icon
A glimpse of the popular silhouette’s influence.
Hands down, the Nike Cortez is one of the most iconic sneakers in its companies history. Designed for running on diverse terrain, the shoe evolved from a track star’s favorite to a global standard of cool kicks. There are two memorable moments that made the Nike Cortez a pop icon.
Forrest Gump is a critically acclaimed motion picture, that captures a man’s adventurous journey of life in the United States of America. In the movie, Forest sense of refuge comes from his love for running. Jenny (Forrest life-long love interest) decided to gift him with a pair of Nike Cortez. This was the first time I wanted a pair of all white sneakers (even though my mom or dad wouldn’t buy me a pair). Forrest literally ran across the country in his Nike Cortez’s. Those scenes showed me how durable and reliable the signature line really is.
Kendrick Lamar, Grammy winning rapper, kicked off his Nike deal in 2017. 
With the Cortez Basic Slip, Kendrick Lamar teams up with Nike to update a mainstay sneaker in Southern California culture. The slip-on silhouette ditches the laces in favor of a drawcord system cinched at the heel, while the lace bed is replaced with a lightly padded panel in grey, accented with an orange ribbon printed with ‘House Shoes.’ A blue leather Swoosh adorns the lateral side of the shoe, while a Swoosh outlined in orange stitching marks the medial side.
Fast forward to recent years, the Nike Cortez thrives on a grand scale. Once my interest in hip-hop developed, I realized how prevalent the Nike Cortez is on the west coast (specifically California). It was a match in heaven when Nike signed rapper artist Kendrick Lamar to an endorsement deal. Similar to his style, the Cortez is eloquently simplistic. Each colorway had subtle hues and alterations on them to signify the artistry of the lyrical genius.
The Nike Cortez transcends all boundaries of culture.
