While Nike is rooted firmly in the realm of sport, it didn't take long for the brand to extend its product line beyond runners, football trainers, and the like after its forming in 1972. One of the earliest examples of Nike crafting a shoe not intended for a specific sport is the Night Trak, a bizarre 1978 creation born at the height of disco's dominance.
The model was based off the Nike LDV and made for patrons and employees of infamous New York city club Studio 54. Apparently a Nike sales rep at the time frequented the club, which is how the sneaker happened.
"He made a commitment to make shoes for Studio 54 people. They had to be danceable, so with a slick bottom and all sparkly. And out of that came the Night Trak," explains Nike's senior director of culture and heritage, Nelson Farris, in a retrospective on the shoes on Nike SNKRS.
The model was very limited, and did see a brief retail release. Nike brought the shoe back via a retro in 2012, and has created a handful of colorways for other shoes inspired by the Night Trak's silver scheme.
