Air Jordan
Air Jordan is a yearly set of sneakers released by Brand Jordan, a NIKE, Inc. subsidiary. Created for six-time NBA Champion Michael Jordan in 1984, the Air Jordan line debuted at retail in 1985 with the Jordan 1. Currently releasing the Jordan 38 with eyes towards the successor Jordan 39, the sub-label is the most popular athlete-specific sneaker line ever created. Designers have included Peter Moore, Bruce Kilgore, Wilson Smith III, Tate Kuerbis, and Tinker Hatfield, who’s credited for 21 of 38 models.
While rooted in performance basketball, Jordans – in particular models between the Jordan 1 and Jordan 14 – have enjoyed widespread adoption in the lifestyle and casual wear spaces. Brand Jordan reissued the set’s first sneaker in 1994 during Jordan’s first retirement from the NBA. Subsequent years have seen hundreds of old and new retros, be they individual releases or as larger collections or sets (i.e. “Defining Moments Pack,” “Countdown Pack,” “Bin 23”). Retros of the Jordan 3, Jordan 4, Jordan 5, and Jordan 6 typically stir controversy depending on whether they feature “NIKE”/”NIKE AIR” branding like their “OG” counterparts or modernized “JORDAN” and Jumpman logos. Nevertheless, the retro line is alive and well all the same, having helped its parent company achieve its first $1 billion revenue quarter in the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year. (The brand’s best-selling release of all-time was 2019’s Jordan 11 “Bred”.)
Outside of general release pairs, Air Jordan collabs remain a major, major driver of hype in the footwear space year in and year out. Beginning with the UNDEFEATED Jordan 4, enlisting outside creatives has resulted in some of the most sought-after sneakers in the history of the hobby. Since that 2006 pair, Jordan Brand’s roster has swelled tremendously to include the likes of Supreme, OFF-WHITE, Travis Scott, UNION LA, and J BALVIN. Furthermore, athletes the likes of Ray Allen, Mike Bibby, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook have received special Friends & Family and Player Exclusive (PE) pairs, which have only contributed to Air Jordan’s legend.
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Air Jordan
On-Foot Look At The “What The” Air Jordan 5
Elaborating on what its “Top 3” complement started, the “What The” Air Jordan 5 effectively mixes colorways in a fashion far more bold, using both...
Nike’s “Peace, Love, And Golf” Tie-Dye Collection Honors San Francisco’s Hippie Movement Ahead Of PGA Championship
Ahead of the 2020 PGA Championship in August, Nike announces the “Peace, Love, And Golf” collection inspired by the city of San Francisco and its...
First Look At The UNION LA x Air Jordan 4 “Guava Ice”
While UNION LA‘s Air Jordan 1 is widely regarded as one of the best collaborations of the last few years, the brand’s upcoming Jordan 4...
Inside Look At The Stadium Goods x Christie’s “Original Air” Auction
Arguably the largest and most historic catalog of Air Jordans to date, Stadium Goods’ and Christie’s “Original Air” auction is poised to break records upon...
The Air Jordan 5 Golf Gets A Groovy Tie-Dye Treatment
Jordan Brand officially introduced the Air Jordan 5 Golf as part of its court-to-green collection of modified Jays, adding spiked soles to a low-top silhouette....
First Look At The UNION LA x Air Jordan 4
After crafting what has become one of the best Air Jordan 1s in recent memory, Chris Gibbs and his West Coast boutique UNION LA were...
The Off-White x Air Jordan 4 WMNS Releases Tomorrow
First teased shortly after the long-anticipated launch of his first Air Jordan 5 collaboration, Virgil Abloh and his Off White label are finally releasing their...
Full Packaging Details Of The Off-White x Air Jordan 4
Despite any controversy he’s found himself in over the past few months, Virgil Abloh still knows hype. And while some supporter have since turned naysayers,...
Detailed Look At The Off-White x Air Jordan 5 “Sail”
Teased last week to the public’s surprise, Off-White — while already quite busy with their forthcoming Air Jordan 4 — has prepared yet another collaborative...