If you’re a sneaker enthusiast, it’s almost impossible to have never heard about Air Jordans. This very iconic shoe has become one of the best and most successful in the industry and, by doing so, has left a lasting legacy by merging fashion and sport, something that had never been done before. You might be planning on getting yourself this dream pair, or you already own one. Here are some very fascinating insights about the Air Jordans.
The skepticism over the Air Jordan 1
There was high doubt that the first Air Jordan would be a success. This was so because at that time, Michael Jordan was a rookie with no proven record, but to everyone’s surprise, he became an NBA electrifying star, and as soon as the shoes hit the market, they sold out right away.
The Air Jordan II didn’t have the Nike Swoosh.
When the Air Jordan II launched, it came with a few surprises to it. It made history as the first Nike shoe ever to exclude the iconic swoosh logo entirely. Their intention with this body decision was to have everyone focus on the shoe design rather than the logo people were used to. With this, they managed to pave the way for a new era that allowed style and innovation to take center stage.
Air Jordan II is the first luxury basketball sneaker.
The Air Jordan II brought out all the style, and to this day it still stands out as the only Jordan model ever produced in Italy. The shoes featured a faux lizard skin on the upper drawing and design and because of this, it introduced an unprecedented level of luxury to the sneakers
Air Jordan III miraculously stopped Michael Jordan from leaving.
It is well known that Michael Jordan was hesitant about signing with Nike in the beginning, so when the designers he started with left, he wanted to follow suit. However, Tinker Hatfield had a mind of his own and was not going to make it happen. He did save the partnership by introducing the iconic elephant print and, at the same time, the Jumpman logo. To seal the deal, Michael Jordan’s father further convinced him Nike had his best interests at heart, and he stayed.
The Air Jordan V was the first basketball sneaker with fancy details.
The new sneakers, the Air Jordan V, were the first of their kind to incorporate 3M reflective material in their design. Tinker Hatfield’s idea for these shoes was to make Michael Jordan shine like the star he was while he played in the arena by incorporating the flashy detail onto the shoe tongue.
Michael Jordan was injured in the Air Jordan VI.
It was during his second game of the 1991 NBA finals against Magic Johnson of the Lakers when Michael injured his foot with the Vl. When his training staff noticed this, they asked him if he wanted a special shoe to protect his injury from further damage or if he’d stick with his Jordans, and he responded with the iconic line, “Give me the pain. “
“Hare Jordan” campaign
In 1992, the team made a big gamble by introducing the “Hare Jordan” ad campaign, which is now a legendary part of Air Jordan’s history. This was a bold and costly campaign, as it cost $1 million to produce, and Michael’s fee was not even part of it. It took a whopping six months to complete, with about 3000 illustrations created by a team of 25.
Michael Jordan versus Air Jordan X.
When Tinker Hatfield showed Michael the design of the Air Jordans X, he bluntly said, “I don’t like it; you need to change it.”. This was so because Micheal wasn’t involved in its final design, to which Hatfield had added a leather strip across the toe. Taking the feedback seriously, Hatfield made changes, thus salvaging the situation.
The Air Jordan XI inspiration
With the Air Jordans, Tinker Hatfield was known for taking inspiration from unlikely places. With the Air Jordans Xl, inspiration came from a lawn mower and its cover. While patent leather has since become a staple on Air Jordan sneakers, with the Xl, it wasn’t just about style; it served the functional purpose of durability.
Michael Jordan and the Air Jordan XI versus Nike’s wishes.
During the Bulls playoffs in 1995, Tinker introduced the Concord Xls to Michael to gauge his reaction. He was so impressed with them that, despite Hatfield’s objections, he wore them on the court, which then forced Nike to adopt the same design for the next season. When they finally dropped, the demand was overwhelming.
Why the Air Jordan XI with suits is a thing?
You might not be able to find any footage online, but it is widely known that the Air Jordans Xls became the shoe of choice for formal events. This was brought about by the Boyz II Men award show appearance, where the group wore the “concord” XIs, and this was seen as a sign of cultural crossover.
Why does the Michael Jordan statue wear the Air Jordan IXs?
When they were designing the statue of Micheal outside the United Center, the Air Jordan IXs were chosen because of their unique outsole. Fun fact: Michael never got to wear the Air Jordans IXs on the court as a Bull since he had retired.
The first $200 basketball sneaker.
The Air Jordan line set many groundbreaking records for sneakers, including a $200 price tag on one of their shoes, the Air Jordan XVII. To justify this high price for the sneakers, the shoes came with a briefcase and an interactive CD. This, however, raised many concerns for a while.
Michael Jordan versus Jordan XIX and Snakes.
Because of Michael’s fear of snakes, the Jordan brand had to completely revise its original marketing strategy for the Air Jordans XlX that had been inspired by the Black Mamba. Because of this, the campaign was adjusted, and Kobe Bryant, who embraced the theme, worked with the team.
The Air Jordan XXI secret message
Just like those secret bonus tracks on your favorite albums, the Air Jordan XXI came with something extra and exciting that you might not have known was even there. Heck, many might still not have seen it. It is said that if you ever hold them up to a black light, a special message on the shoes illuminates. What is it? Find out for yourself.