Nike

Founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, Nike grew from a car-trunk sneaker importer into the largest athletic brand on the planet. Its innovation lab has spent five decades chasing marginal gains, from the waffle outsole to full-length Air units to today's foam midsoles. Nike's catalog spans running, basketball, and lifestyle silhouettes worn as much on the street as on the track.