Nike Riffs on Iconic Tagline, Targeting Gen Z With ‘Why Do It?’
Nike is putting a twist on “Just Do It” with a global campaign to fire up young consumers amid corporate restructuring and layoffs
Gen Z is the throwback generation, reviving low-rise jeans, Walkmen and even “going out tops” in its quest for Y2K aesthetics. Is there room for Nike’s new twist on its iconic tagline, “Just Do It”? We’re about to find out.
The activewear giant is bringing back its three words from 1988 for a new generation with the launch of “Why Do It?,” a global campaign meant to encourage a fitness and wellness-focused group often criticized as coddled but defined just as much by its anxiety.
“‘Just Do It’ isn’t just a slogan — it’s a spirit that lives in every heartbeat of sport,” Nike’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer Nicole Graham said. “It’s the belief that, together, we can inspire, unite and elevate ourselves beyond what we thought possible. With ‘Why Do It?,’ we’re igniting that spark for a new generation, daring them to step forward with courage, trust in their own potential and discover the greatness that unfolds the moment they decide to begin.”
The campaign debuts with a cinematic anthem featuring Saquon Barkley, Caitlin Clark, LeBron James, Carlos Alcaraz, Tara Davis-Woodhall and Qinwen Zheng.
It’s also one of several initiatives placing young women at the center of Nike’s Gen Z strategy. The company recently introduced Clark as its newest signature athlete with her own interlocking “CC” logo, unveiled Sam Kerr’s first Player Edition soccer boot and expanded its partnership with Spotify to launch “Make Moves,” a global project encouraging teenage girls to become active through daily music and movement rituals.
Nike’s Gen Z and women-focused strategy also includes its high-profile partnership with Kim Kardashian on NikeSkims. Announced in February, the line of training apparel, footwear and accessories is designed to expand Nike’s women’s business, but the launch has been pushed back to later this year due to internal production delays, Bloomberg reported in June.
The reintroduction comes at a transitional time for the company. In addition to tariff-related pressures, Nike confirmed it will lay off roughly 1% of corporate staff this month as part of CEO Elliott Hill’s effort to realign the business and organize Nike into “sport-obsessed teams” focused on driving innovation across Nike, Jordan and Converse.
Nike will release its fiscal 2026 first-quarter results on Sept. 30.