The history of Nike Cortez sneakers – the most criminal shoes in the world

In the USA, the best and sometimes the only way to recognize a gangster is to look at his sneakers. Each gang in the States has its own dress code and, accordingly, wears special shoes. Nike Cortez sneakers can be called a classic example when ordinary sports shoes become the "special shoes" of a bandit. In the 80-90s, sneakers in some American cities could not only be "presented", but also put a bullet in the forehead.

The history of Nike Cortez bandit shoes begins in the distant 60s. Then, in fact, Nike did not exist, but there was a Blue Ribbon Sports company. She was engaged not in the production of shoes and clothes, but in resale. The most popular product was Tiger sneakers, manufactured by the Japanese company Onitsuka, now known as Asics.

The prototype of the Cortes was developed in 1966 by Bill Baeurman, one of the founders of Nike, in collaboration with Onitsuka designers. This sports shoe was called first TG-24, and later – TG-Mexico. The name of the Mexican capital was used as an advertising move. The 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City were approaching and the creators of the sneakers just decided to make such a marketing move.

But the Japanese did not like this version of the name. Therefore, in Onitsuka catalogs, these sneakers appeared under the name Aztec, in honor of the Aztec Indians who once inhabited Central Mexico. But even this name turned out to be unlucky — the Adidas company began to threaten the court, since it had been producing Adidas Azteca Gold sneakers for a long time.

Then the owners of Blue Ribbon Sports Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight renamed the model "Cortez", in honor of the famous Spanish conquistador of the 16th century Hernan Cortez. The Spaniard was strongly associated with the Aztecs, as he defeated them and captured their capital Tenochtitlan.

Sports shoes, which were initially unlucky with the name, turned out to be more successful in terms of sales. Blue Ribbon Cortez sneakers have become popular with professionals and amateurs. They were especially liked by those who jog — they were called the ideal option for this sport. In 1971, Blue Ribbon Sports was renamed Nike, and the sneakers got their modern name Nike Cortez.

In 1972, Nike permanently severed relations with Onitsuka and won through the court the rights to the name Cortez and the design of the top Onitsuka Tiger sneakers. It was a triumph! For their time, the Cortes seemed like guests from the future. They were made of snow-white leather and had a blue stripe in the thickness of the sole, as well as a red branded swush on the side. The sneakers were the lightest of all and had excellent cushioning properties.

At the 1972 Olympic Games, they became the most popular sports shoes. Inspired by the success, Nike has released a women's version of the shoe called Nike Senorita Cortez. In 1976, actress Farrah Fawcett appeared in these sneakers in one of the episodes of the TV series "Charlie's Angels", which made the model even more in demand. Nike spared no money to advertise their shoes. The cortes were advertised by the athlete Steve Prefontaine, and at one time even Elton John himself sported sneakers.

In the 70s of the last century, youth criminal groups began to actively develop in the United States. Most of them were ethnic and united immigrants from certain Latin American or Asian countries. Each gang hastened to choose a special shoe for itself, which became its business card. Sneakers have become the identifier of members of criminal gangs, sometimes the only one.

At first, shoes did not play an important role in the criminal world, but by the early 90s everything had changed. For "bandit" sneakers worn by a person who was not in a gang, they were easily killed right on the street. A passerby who walked into a strange area in the "wrong" shoes put himself in mortal danger.

It was not difficult to understand the nuances of gang equipment. The African-American Crips gang preferred Converse (Converse All Star). The Bloods gang has chosen several Reebok models for themselves. And Nike Cortez became the calling card of MS-13, the infamous Mara Salvatrucha. There are still more than 50 thousand members of this group in the United States, which holds most American prisons in subjection. Most of the gang's gangsters are from El Salvador.

MS-13 members could be recognized from afar by Nike Cortez and khaki trousers. In the areas where this gang ruled, it was not just dangerous to live, but sometimes impossible. Thugs from the gang clung to passers-by, threatening with weapons and extorting money. Often the bandits took off people's jackets and in general any things that they liked. The most desperate did not dare to resist MS-13, because this gang is known for not being afraid of the police at all.

If a guy from Mara Salvatrucha has it in his head to kill someone, he does it without hesitation. Reprisals can be very cruel — thugs from the gang chop the victim with a machete, cut out the genitals, poison with fighting dogs. The gang's main income is robbery, arms and drug trafficking, as well as pimping. These guys do not disdain contract killings either. Areas where the gang is particularly active, even police patrols avoid visiting unnecessarily.

What else can you expect from a gang whose motto sounds like "Mata, Viola, Controla" ("Kill, rape, subdue"). Members of the group also like other pretentious mottos. "You live for God and mother, and you die for the gang", "What belongs to God belongs to God, but what does not belong to God is ours" - they like to say about and without.

It is quite clear why an ordinary American, seeing a guy in a Cortez on the street, tried to take his feet away. Of course, the authorities simply had to react. At first, Nike sneakers were banned from being worn in schools and colleges. Then the police just started arresting guys in cortes right on the streets. In the 90s, there were cases when cops shot to kill guys in these sneakers. Just in case.

Although the 90s have passed, nothing much has changed in the neighborhoods controlled by Mara Salvatrucha. In 2017, US President Donald Trump walked on MS-13 at one of his speeches. He called the gang members "animals" and promised to destroy them. Soon the police and the FBI got down to business – 3,800 bandits were arrested in the shortest possible time.

Of course, the legendary white Nike Cortez also played an important role in the raids. The arrests led to the fact that the leader of the Sugar gang instructed all MS-13 members to remove the cortes. This fact hit the image of the model hard and the sneakers finally began to lose their criminal-romantic aura.

Now you can safely wear Nike Cortez in any city in the USA. Well, how calmly - the chance of losing your shoes and head will be no higher than if you walk in Air Jordan. By the way, these are another sneakers that cost many lives.