Aaron Hope 
Jordanheads start counting down the days to the next Air Jordan flagship release date the instant each year’s model hits retail, and with the sneaker blogosphere providing unprecedented access to the front end of the product cycle, we’ve known what to expect for a while now. That’s one of the Air Jordan 2012’s unique characteristics: it’s ability to reflect the familiar while pushing the bar higher for the entire basketball sneaker industry. It starts when the Air Jordan 2012 Deluxe hits select Jordan Brand retailers on February 8th with the Tinker Hatfield/Tom Luedecke team-up offering three different midsoles and two booties, of which we’ll see discrete combinations release on the 25th. The Air Jordan 2012 Flight System‘s A, E and Q variations give you the ability to get exactly what you’re after at a more affordable price, and you’ll be able to pick precisely which configuration you want along with its colors when the AJ2012 hits NIKEiD on February 14th. Click through to read the official press release and stick with Sneaker News for full event coverage throughout the day.
Official Press Release
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BEAVERTON, OR (February 7, 2012) – Today, Jordan Brand, a division of NIKE, Inc., unveiled the AIR JORDAN 2012, the 27th shoe in the AIR JORDAN franchise. The all-new AIR JORDAN 2012 is designed to encourage today’s athletes to rethink performance. This year’s model builds upon the AIR JORDAN 2011’s two midsole modular system by featuring two interchangeable inner sleeves and three interchangeable midsoles for performance customization. The AIR JORDAN 2012 DELUXE will be available in two colorways nationwide on Wednesday, February 8 for a suggested retail price of $223, with the AIR JORDAN 2012 Flight System launching on Saturday, February 25 for a suggested retail price of $180.
The AIR JORDAN 2012 draws inspirational cues from the legacy of Michael Jordan and continues to be one of the best performance shoes available by combining innovative technology and premium materials. The AIR JORDAN 2012’s modular system gives athletes the ability to customize for their unique playing styles and for fit preference by offering 6 different configurations.
“Through comprehensive research we saw an increasing need for footwear that could be customized to meet the needs of the world’s best athletes,” said Tinker Hatfield, AIR JORDAN 2012 co-designer and Vice President, Special Projects and Creative Design for NIKE, Inc. “Last year’s AIR JORDAN 2011 began the modular story for the brand with two interchangeable midsoles, but we took it a step further this year by introducing two interchangeable inner sleeves and three interchangeable midsoles to help players ‘fly through’, ‘fly over’ or ‘fly around’ their opponents.”
For the player that would like to ‘fly around’ their opponent, the green midsole features a Nike Zoom unit in the heel for lightweight and responsive cushioning. The blue ‘fly over’ midsole incorporates a Nike Zoom unit in the forefoot and an encapsulated Air Sole unit in the heel for the perfect blend of responsiveness and impact protection. For the player that would like to ‘fly through’ their opponent, the orange midsole houses a full-length encapsulated Air Sole unit that provides lightweight cushioning and impact protection for hard landings in the paint.
The AIR JORDAN 2012 also features two interchangeable inner sleeves, one for the player that needs to be quicker on the court and needs more freedom of motion in the ankle, while the high inner sleeve provides more protection around the foot and advanced ankle support.
With legendary shoe designer Tinker Hatfield and Tom Luedecke, Senior Footwear Designer for Jordan Brand at the helm, the shoe’s design continues the tradition of using premium materials on the upper by combining Flywire technology with rich, full-grain leather overlays for lightweight support and a premium crafted look. In addition, the AIR JORDAN 2012 features an innovative “Flight Carbon” plate in the midfoot that is made with a combination of glass and carbon fiber and is contoured to the natural shape of the foot for optimal support.
“As a basketball player, I always wanted a shoe that adapted with my game,” said Michael Jordan. “On any given night I had to adjust my style of play for countless reasons and the AIR JORDAN 2012 meets those needs with six different configurations. I’m proud to say there is not another shoe like it in the market.”
The AIR JORDAN 2012 FLIGHT SYSTEM will be customizable at retail based on the consumers style of play and will feature one inner sleeve and one midsole for a suggested retail price of $180 and will be available on Saturday, February 25. In addition, the AIR JORDAN 2012 will be available on Nike iD on Tuesday, February 14 for a suggested retail price of $205.
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