User:Jason.H29/Air Jordan

For the defunct airline, see Air Jordan (airline).

Air Jordan

Product type	Basketball Shoes, Clothing
Owner	Nike
Country	United States
Introduced	November 17, 1984 (1984-11-17)
Markets	Worldwide
Website	nike.com/jordan

Air Jordan is a line of basketball shoes and athletic apparel produced by Nike, Inc. The first Air Jordan shoe was produced for Hall of Fame former basketball player Michael Jordan during his time with the Chicago Bulls in late 1984 and released to the public on April 1, 1985. The shoes were designed for Nike by Peter Moore, Tinker Hatfield, and Bruce Kilgore. The company generated over $5.1 billion in sales, earning Michael Jordan 5% of the revenue, totaling $256 million for that year because of his brand contract.

Air Jordan has also become an iconic cultural symbol. The Jordan Logo, known as the "Jumpman", originated from a photo-shoot done for LIFE Magazine before Jordan played for Team USA in the 1984 Olympic Games, photographed by Jacobus Rentmeester. This photo-shoot was taken before Jordan signed with Nike in 1985, with Jordan wearing his Olympic jumpsuit and New Balances doing a pose identical to the grand jeté ballet technique. Peter Moore, who was in charge of the design team, came across this LIFE magazine issue and Jordan ended up replicating the same pose for the pair of Nike shoes. The “Jumpman” logo has developed and gone through different changes and can be seen on sneakers, attire, hats, socks, and other forms of wear. The logo has also become one of the most recognizable logos in the athletics industry.

The Jordan brand also focuses on philanthropy with many large donations throughout the years to communities, athletes, and schools. The brand pledges to help with pressing issues in black communities through grants to the communities focusing on economic justice, education, social justice, and Narrative changes to the youth.

Background

As Jordan was entering his rookie year in 1984, he was approached by Adidas, Converse, and Nike to sign a shoe deal to play in their shoes. Nike comprised a compelling meeting with Jordan, playing a "highlight video of Jordan’s various dunks and anti-gravitational moves, scored to the 1984 pop song “Jump,” by the Pointer Sisters" as well as giving the first design of the shoe to showcase to Jordan. Jordan criticized the shoe for its color way, however Nike put his opinion and criticisms into a great deal of consideration to create a brand that represents Jordan's identity as a play and create his "real signature shoe".[1] Jordan had many offers however, Nike was the only one that was determined to make Jordan "a stand-alone star and give him a signature shoe line" the other companies saw Jordan as a figure that they could use. Jordan ultimately signed with Nike for $2.5 million for 5 years, in addition to royalties for each sale of his shoe line.

The NBA policy stated that the shoes must be 51% white and in accordance with the shoes that the rest of the team was wearing. Failure to follow this policy resulted in a $5,000 fine per game. Nike designed the Air Jordan I based around the Chicago Bull's colors, red and black, and only 23% white, which was a violation of that policy. Nike agreed to pay each fine, which ended up in a lot of controversy but also gained a lot of publicity for the shoe. With the fines that the NBA placed on Jordan for wearing the shoes, it gave a unique trait to what people associated them with, as ground breaking since it broke the rules of the NBA. They also took advantage of this marketing opportunity with the Air Jordan I "Banned" advertisement, which stated "On Oct. 15, Nike created a revolutionary new basketball shoe. On Oct. 18, the NBA threw them out of the game. Fortunately, the NBA can’t keep you from wearing them. Air Jordan. From Nike." The shoe ended up selling out 50,000 pairs and generated more than $150 million in sales.

On September 9, 1997, Michael Jordan and Nike introduced Jordan Brand (originally called 'Brand Jordan') in a press conference he held in New York City. The shoes first appeared on store shelves on November 1, 1998. The brand has built a sustainable business model by releasing new designs, retro models, and collaborating with popular artists including Travis Scott, Eminem, and Drake. Jordan Brand reached over $5 billion in sales in 2022, of which Michael Jordan made $150 million—nearly double the $86.7 million he earned in his entire NBA career.

Product Models

Model	Year	Notes
Air Jordan I Original Price: $95	1985	The first Air Jordan was designed to be used by Michael Jordan in-game. It was designed by Peter B. Moore, and released during Jordan's sophomore season with the Chicago Bulls. The Jordan 1 Royal was never worn by Michael Jordan on an NBA court. The black and red Air Jordan 1 has been re-released several times, starting in 1994. The red and black colorway of the Nike Air Ship, the prototype for the Jordan I, was later outlawed by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern for having very little white on them. (This rule, known as the "51 percent" rule, was repealed in the late 2000s.)
Air Jordan II Original Price: $100	1986	The success of the Air Jordan I encouraged Nike to release a new Air Jordan in 1986 for the new basketball season. Designed by Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore, the Air Jordan II was originally made in Italy. In early tests, Michael Jordan wore a prototype that fused the upper of the original Air Jordan with the cushioning being designed for the new model. The Air Jordan II featured a full-length Air-Sole unit and a polyurethane midsole. The shoe bore a similar silhouette to the Nike Air Python that would release the following year. It featured a faux lizard skin and swooping lines that resembled the detailing of a sports car. This design aesthetic would factor into the Air Jordan line later in the series. The Air Jordan II was the first Jordan not to have the Nike swoosh on the upper, though "Nike" was stitched across the heel counter. Michael Jordan wore the Air Jordan II for a shortened 18 games in the 1986–87 season due to a broken foot. The shoe retailed at $100 when it was released from 1986 to 1987. It had several re-releases as the Jordan Retro 2.
Air Jordan III Original Price: $100	1988	The Air Jordan III featured the debut of the Jumpman logo. Jordan Brand reintroduced the Air Jordan III in the True Blue colorway as an international-only release in 2009. In 2011, the brand released a Black History Month (BHM) Air Jordan III colorway in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of Black History Month. The same year saw the release of the "True Blue" III on June 4. The Stealth colorway of the III was released in September and the Black Cements were released in November. On February 15, 2020, the most recent version of the shoe Air Jordan 3 SE "Red Cement" was released in celebration of Chicago, Illinois hosting the 2020 NBA All-Star Game. The brand also debuted a Chicago-exclusive version of the colorway. This pair features "Nike Chi" branding on the heel, replacing the traditional "Nike Air" branding.
Air Jordan IV Original Price: $110	1989	In December 1988, Nike released the Air Jordan IV to the public. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, it was the first Air Jordan released on the global market. It had four colorways: White/Black, Black/Cement Grey, White/Fire Red-Black, and Off White/Military Blue. Nike featured director and actor Spike Lee in ads for the shoe. Lee had featured the shoe in his movie Do The Right Thing. Michael Jordan wore the Air Jordan IV when he made "The Shot," a series winner in Game 5 of the 1989 NBA First Round between the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2012 a Cavalier colorway dubbed the "Cavs" was released to honor "The Shot."
Air Jordan V Original Price: $125	1990	The Air Jordan V was released in February 1990 and designed by Hatfield. Inspired by a WWII Mustang fighter, features include a reflective tongue with a protruding design, translucent rubber soles and lace locks. The Air Jordan V saw a lot of use in popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. During many episodes Will Smith wore the Metallic Silver, Grape, and Fire Red colorways. To pay tribute to his character, Jordan released the Air Jordan 5 Bel Air in 2013 and 2020.
Air Jordan VI Original Price: $125	1991	Designed after a German sports car, Michael Jordan wore the VI for his first Bulls championship. The shoes were worn by the protagonist of the manga Slam Dunk, Hanamichi Sakuragi. In 2014, Nike released special versions of the VI featuring artwork from the series. Various other models in the Air Jordan line are featured in the series, including the original Air Jordan, the V, and the XII.
Air Jordan VII Original Price: $125	1992	The Air Jordan VII was released in 1992 with a new design by Tinker Hatfield. This shoe introduced the huarache technology which allowed the shoes to better conform to the user's foot. A few things were no longer featured on the new model, such as the visible air sole, the Nike Air logo, and the translucent soles. This was the first Air Jordan in the line that did not have any distinctive "Nike Air" branding on the outer portions of the shoe, only on the in-soles. The VIIs were also known for a successful ad campaign in which Bugs Bunny appeared alongside Michael Jordan to market the shoes. When Jordan went to compete at the 1992 Summer Olympics to play for the US Men's Basketball Team (also known as the "Dream Team"), Nike released a special Olympic color combo of the Air Jordan VII model which had Jordan's Olympic jersey number 9, instead of the usual "23" found on other colorways. Various models of the Air Jordan VII were re-released beginning with its 10-year anniversary in 2002.
Air Jordan VIII Original Price: $125	1993	The Air Jordan VIII was released to coincide with the 1992–1993 NBA season. The eighth model of the Air Jordan was noticeably heavier than its predecessors. The Air Jordan VIII model became known as the "Punisher" because of the advanced basketball ankle support and enhanced traction. This shoe contains a full-length air sole, polyurethane midsole, polycarbonate shank plate, and two crossover straps (for added support and more custom fit). The shoe was re-released in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2013, and 2015–2017.
Air Jordan IX Original Price: $125	1993	Originally released in November 1993, the Air Jordan IX model was the first model released after Michael Jordan's retirement. Jordan never played an NBA season wearing these shoes. This model was inspired by baseball cleats that Jordan wore when playing minor-league baseball. The shoe was re-released in 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014–2018. Like the VII and VIII models, the Air Jordan IX featured an inner sock sleeve and nubuck accents. The sole featured different symbols and languages of different countries. The Air Jordan IX has been the shoe chosen to adorn Jordan's feet for his statue outside of the United Center in Chicago. In popular culture, the children's movie The Little Rascals depicted one of the bullies, Butch, wearing a pair of these shoes. American rap icon Tupac Shakur also wore Air Jordans in a popular "Thug Life" photo in 1993.
Air Jordan X Original Price: $125	1994	This was released in 1994 in three colorways - White/Black/Light Steel Grey 'Steel Grey,' White/Black/Dark Powder Blue 'Powder Blue,' Black/Dark Shadow/True Red 'Shadow.' More followed: Powder Blue (worn by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Men's and Women's basketball teams), Orlando Magic*, New York Knicks*, Seattle SuperSonics*, and Sacramento Kings*. It was the first Air Jordan to feature a lightweight Phylon midsole. The shoe also featured all of Michael Jordan's accomplishments up to his first retirement on the outsole. In 2012, the Air Jordan X was re-released. They are dubbed the "Chicago Bulls", as they are part of a regional pack (City Pack), representing five teams. The lacing and tongue are completely black, and the red inner lining contrasts with the red inserts on the outsole. The outsole's design features a striped (wavy) design, which list many of Jordan's accomplishments. They retailed at $160. The Air Jordan X was released again in an OVO collaboration in 2015 and 2016, releasing in white and black colorways respectively with stingray detailing. The shoe was re-released in 2005, 2008, 2012–2016, and 2018.
Air Jordan XI Original Price: $125	1995	This model was designed by Tinker Hatfield. When the shoe launched, Michael Jordan (retired from basketball by then) was with the Birmingham Barons in baseball's minor baseball leagues. Hatfield designed the sneaker waiting for Jordan to come back and hoping he would play in them. The ballistic mesh upper of the sneaker was meant to make the Air Jordan XI lighter and more durable. Further changes came with the use of a carbon fiber spring plate in the translucent outsole, giving the shoe better torque when twisting on the court. The highlight and arguably best-known aspect of the shoe is its patent leather mudguard. Patent leather was lightweight compared to genuine leather and also tended not to stretch as much – a property to help keep the foot within the bounds of the foot bed during directional changes on the court. The patent leather gave the XI a "formal" look. When this shoe released, some wore this model with business suits instead of dress shoes. The sneakers were only samples in 1995 when Jordan decided to come back to the NBA. Hatfield and Nike discouraged Jordan from playing in them, but once they were produced, he couldn't resist. Also noteworthy, Jordan violated league dress code by wearing the shoes, as his teammates wore all-black shoes. It wasn't the first time Jordan had run afoul of NBA footwear rules, having broken them with his very first signature shoe in 1985. He was fined $5,000 for not following the Bulls' colorway policy with the AJ XI. After the fine, Nike made him a pair of the shoes in a black/white/concord colorway for the series against Orlando; Jordan wore Penny Hardaway's signature black Nike Air Flight shoes for Game 3 while said colorway was under production. A similar black/white/royal blue colorway was released to the public at the end of 2000. The colorway was changed for the public release because the concord purple had looked like royal blue on television. Jordan wore the Air Jordan XI on the way to helping the Chicago Bulls claim the 1995–96 NBA Championship. He also wore the XI white Columbia colorway in the 1996 NBA All-Star Game and was selected MVP of the game. The shoes received more media exposure when Jordan wore the Air Jordan XI model in the 1996 animated movie Space Jam. These shoes were eventually released in 2000 and re-released in 2009 with the nickname "Space Jams." The concord purple was changed to royal blue for the released versions of the shoe. The Air Jordan XI is one of the most popular Air Jordans in the series and is Hatfield's favorite.
Air Jordan XII Original Price: $135	1996	The Air Jordan XII featured a "Rising Sun" motif mimicking the Flag of Japan. MJ wore the Red/Black color way during his famous "Flu Game" game 5 of 1997 finals.
Air Jordan XIII Original Price: $150	1997	This model had a carbon fiber plate, designed by Hatfield. The Black Panther was the inspiration for the Air Jordan XIII, with the sole resembling the pads on a panther's paw. A hologram on the back of the shoe imitates a panther's eyes in the dark. They were re-released in 2005, which coincided with the release of the Air Jordan 8s shoe. In the movie He Got Game, the Air Jordan XIII was worn by Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington). Ray Allen, who played Jake's son Jesus in the film, wore them when he broke Reggie Miller's all-time record for made three-point shots during a game against the Lakers in Boston during the 2011 season. The Jordan Brand re-released the Air Jordan XIII at the end of 2010, which included the French Blue/Flint Grey, White/Red-Black, "Playoff" color way and the Black/Altitude Green color way. In 2017, Jordan Brand released the "History of Flight" colorway. This colorway is from the 2009 World Basketball Festival, where the "History of Flight" collection was revealed to celebrate Jordan's 25th anniversary. The shoe was re-released in 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2010–2018.
Air Jordan XIV Original Price: $150	1999	Inspired by the Ferrari 550 M which Michael Jordan owned, the Air Jordan XIV was originally released from 1997 to 1999. It was re-released in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012 and 2014–2018. The Air Jordan XIV co-styled by Hatfield and Mark Smith was made race ready and equipped with the Jordan Jumpman insignia on a Ferrari shaped badge. In addition, these shoes include breathable air ducts on the outer sole. The color scheme of predominant black accentuated with red was nicknamed "The Last Shot" because Michael Jordan wore them as he hit the game winning shot over Bryon Russell, of the Utah Jazz, in his final game with the Chicago Bulls in the 1998 NBA Finals. There are 14 Jumpman logos—7 on each shoe—corresponding the shoes' number in the series.
Air Jordan XV Original Price: $150	1999	This was the first shoe after Jordan's retirement. The design originated from the aircraft prototype X-15, which was developed by NASA during the 1950s. The sides of the XV were made from woven kevlar fiber. The Jordan XVs were Hatfield's least favorite in the series.
Air Jordan XVI Original Price: $160	2001	Designed by Wilson Smith III the shoe came with spats, and the design was inspired by performance cars, architecture, and signaled Jordans movement from a player to a part time owner of the Washington Wizards. The ad campaign featured Mos Def.
Air Jordan XVII Original Price: $200	2002	This pair of Jordans come equipped with Keefer, which held the shoes and a compact disc containing the Air Jordan XVII song. The retail price of the shoe was US$200. The defining functional design element of the Air Jordan XVII model, which was later replicated on the Air Jordan XXIII model, was the reinforced mid-sole which provided a sturdy and stable chassis for the shoe. They were made in four mid top colors and three low-top colors. The shoe was re-released in 2008 and 2016.
Air Jordan XVIII Original Price: $175	2003	The Air Jordan XVIII shoe was released in 2003, and was the shoe for Jordan's last season, in which he played for the Washington Wizards. The shoe was designed by Air Jordan Senior Footwear Designer, Tate Kuerbis, a person that had been part of the Jordan footwear design team since 1999 and with Nike since 1995. The inspiration for the design came from a number of things; sleek racing lines of the auto world, carbon fiber-based monocoque of F1 race cars, race car driving shoes (rubber heel wrap) and Fine Italian dress shoes (bold stitching on the soles). It was re-released in 2008.
Air Jordan XIX Original Price: $165	2004	Released in 2004, this is the first Jordan release after his third, and final, retirement which came after the 2002–03 NBA season. The design was inspired by the black mamba snake, and two original colorways where released: white/flint gray and black/red. Three regional colorways and three special edition colorways were released. They consisted of the East, West, and Midwest edition for regular and West, East, and Olympic for the SE (special edition). The Air Jordan XIX used innovative materials. The upper section of shoe was developed in collaboration with the global materials consultancy Material ConneXion, who sourced Nike a sleeving normally used in architectural applications for protecting PVC pipes from bursting. In theory, this allowed for a shoe without laces, because the sleeving does not stretch. Nonetheless, the Air Jordan XIX model did include a set of laces behind the sleeve to better secure the shoe. They are the lightest Air Jordans ever made. The shoes appeared on the sitcom My Wife and Kids, in the episode "Fantasy Camp: Part 2", when the protagonist Michael Kyle (Damon Wayans) steals it from Jordan's hotel room and uses it to play against Jordan himself later in the episode. Michael Jordan wears "AJ IV Cool Grey" in the episode. The shoe was re-released in 2008.
Air Jordan XX Original Price: $175	2005	The Air Jordan XX was inspired by bicycling shoes. The strap was placed in the center of the shoe over the laces. It also helped to create a tighter fit and increased support. The shoe was re-released in 2008 and 2015.
Air Jordan XXI Original Price: $175	2006	The Air Jordan XXI model of shoes was designed by D'Wayne Edwards and inspired by sport touring vehicles. The shoe features lower-foot air grilles, double-overlasted Phylon midsole, a carbon fiber shank plate and a seamless diamond-quilted booty. It also has a tenable I.P.S. suspension system that lets the wearer choose between Zoom and Encapsulated air. The Air Jordan XXI was originally released in 2006. It was re-released in 2008. The Air Jordan XXI was introduced on television by the "Second Generation" advertisement.
Air Jordan XX2 Original Price: $165	2007	The Air Jordan XX2 was designed by D'Wayne Edwards and was released on MJ's 44th birthday Feb 17.The promo commercial for the XX2 was directed by Mark Romanek.
Air Jordan XX3 Original Price: $185	2008	The Air Jordan XX3 was designed by Tinker Hatfield. It was the first basketball shoe in the "Nike Considered" category, for using materials from not more than 200 miles (320 km) from a Nike Factory. It features a hand-stitched exterior, full-length bootie, carbon fiber shank plate, the last to feature interchangeable IPS pillars, and an articulated chassis. The shoe was released on January 25, 2008, and was the last Air Jordan until the XX8 to have Roman numeral identification. The shoe was re-released in 2015–2016.
Air Jordan 2009 Original Price: $190	2009	The Air Jordan 2009 (Mk 24) was designed by Jason Mayden and was the first Air Jordan model named after the year of its release rather than its numbered system. Inspired by Jordan's defensive focus, the shoe incorporates Articulated Propulsion Technology used by Paralympian runners. It also features a durable pleated silk upper, protective TPU chassis, carbon fiber arch plate and Zoom Air structure. The shoe was released on January 31, 2009. The shoe has not been re-released.
Air Jordan 2010 Original Price: $170	2010	This is the 25th anniversary of the Air Jordan brand, and although commonly called the Jordan 2010s, is also referred to as Air Jordan XX5/XXV. This model of shoe was announced on November 12, 2009, for a release date of February 13, 2010, retailing for US$170 (equivalent to $237.53 in 2023). Dwyane Wade is endorsing the AJ 2010. The shoe has not been re-released. The base of the each mid-sole has stylized text that when combined reads: "I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." This quote was originally attributed to Michael Jordan, and is a reference to an advertising campaign that aired in 1997 with Jordan detailing his failures that led to his success in his career.
Air Jordan 2011 Original Price:$180	2011	The Air Jordan 2011 (Mk 26) was endorsed by Dwyane Wade in 2011, Jordan Brand decided to keep the fans happy with the release of the Air Jordan 2011. The shoe has inter-changeable insoles – The Red, "Explosive" one is claimed to symbolize power, and a Blue, "Quick" one, supposedly for quickness. Four colorways of the shoe were released on February 19, 2011, in correspondence with the 2011 All Star Game. The first colorway was White/Black. There were also White/Red and White/Blue colorways that coincided with the East/West Jersey Colors. The "Year of the Rabbit" colorway was a limited release that celebrated of Michael Jordan's Chinese zodiac sign, coinciding with the current zodiac sign, the Year of the Rabbit. The 2011 has a unique design along both sides of the shoe. It is a star-constellation pattern that also serves as breathing holes for the shoe to keep it well ventilated. It uses patent leather wrapped around the shoe. The shoes are hand burnished and crafted. A dress shoe that feels similar to the XI was reported to be the goal. The shoe has not been re-released.
Air Jordan 2012	2012	Air Jordan 2012 (Mk 27) offers six customization configurations. Two interchangeable sleeves and three insoles adapt to different playing styles. The Deluxe model was launched on February 8, while the customization Flight models were released on February 25, 2012. It was the final Air Jordan model to be named after the year it was released as the numbered system returned in 2013 with the Air Jordan XX8. The Air Jordan 2012 was originally released in 2012. It has not been re-released.
Air Jordan XX8	2013	The Air Jordan XX8, designed by Tinker Hatfield, was released on February 16, 2013. This premiere model featuring a mostly black upper and volt Dynamic Fit bootie. A heel and forefoot Nike Zoom unit in combination with the new Jordan Flight Plate, Dynamic Fit straps for increased support, a carbon fiber heel counter for additional support, and its most notable feature, the mesh upper for flexibility and ventilation. Jordan Brand has decided for 2013 to returning to the Air Jordan numbered order after having stopped at XX3. The Air Jordan 2012 featured different technology which including interchangeable insoles for various styles of play, a concept introduced with the Kobe System. The exterior shroud gives the shoe a sleeker look than any other and is 8 inches high on the ankle but unzips and folds down revealing the bright volt green interior.
Air Jordan XX9	2014	The Air Jordan XX9, also designed by Hatfield, released in September 2014 in both an elephant print and a knit edition. The shoe has already been debuted in the NBA by Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard. The shoe has Flight Web for superior lockdown, a performance woven upper for comfort, support, strength, and protection, and a re-engineered Flight Plate. The XX9 also released in a pack alongside the iconic Air Jordan XI on December 23, 2014, called the "Ultimate Gift of Flight" pack. Jordan released two versions of this shoes. The regular cut and the low version. Some of the colorways released in low version are buckets, Chicago bulls, UNC, and infrared.
Air Jordan XXX	2016	The Air Jordan XXX (30) debuted on January 14, 2016, at an exclusive media event in Chicago. It was again designed by Tinker Hatfield. The first colorway of the shoe released on February 16. The shoe consists of an upper and outsole very similar to that of the XX9 of the previous year. The upper is a combination of performance woven and flyknit that is new for the brand in 2016, and also has a flyknit-constructed ankle collar that extends slightly past where the collar of the shoe would normally be. Jordan brand has also brought back functional Dynamic Fit in the lacing system. The outsole/midsole is almost identical to the XX9, with very minor technical tweaks. The outsole boasts a more noticeable change, with a different traction pattern unique to this shoe, while the midsole remains almost entirely the same. The only difference in the midlsole cushioning setup from the Jordan XX9 is a material change in the FlightPlate setup, which is now named FlightSpeed and is constructed of a plastic rather than carbon fiber for more flexibility while remaining structural integrity.
Air Jordan XXXI	2016	The Air Jordan XXXI (31) was unveiled on July 20, 2016. The sneaker is heavily influenced by the Air Jordan 1s having a leather upper and both a Nike swoosh and a Jumpman plus a Jordan "Wings" logo. Its first retail debut was on September 3, 2016, in the "banned" colorway for $185 alongside its air Jordan 1 counterpart. Notable appearances of the AJ 31 include the "USA" colorway worn during the 2016 Olympic basketball tournament by members of team USA. Basketball at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's team rosters. Some of the colorways released are Camo, QUAI 54, Black/Gold, Chicago Away, Chicago Home, Black/White, Midnight Navy, Jordan Brand Classic, and WHY NOT that celebrates Russell Westbrook's fashion sense.
Air Jordan XXXII	2017	The Air Jordan XXXII (32) was first released on September 23, 2017. This model is heavily influenced by the Air Jordan 2 and included a Jordan "Wings" logo. It first came out in the "Rossa Corsa" colorway. A special "Banned" colorway was released on October 18, 2017, to coincide with the 31st anniversary for when the NBA banned the original AJ I black and red colorway. Another special edition called the "Russ" colorway was released to celebrate Russell Westbrook's sponsorship with the Jordan brand. Jordan brand released 2 types of this shoe, the original mid length cut and low cut. Some of the colorways they released for low version are freethrow line, camo, like mike, wheat, wing it, and last shot.
Air Jordan XXXIII	2018	The Air Jordan XXXIII (33) was released on October 18, 2018. This is the first Air Jordan model to go laceless.
Air Jordan XXXIV	2019	The Air Jordan XXXIV (34) was released on September 25, 2019. This would have multiple details such as a commemorative date for the brand's 30th anniversary.
Air Jordan XXXV	2020	The Air Jordan XXXV (35) debuted in the Fall of 2020 with a distinct new shape. The model focused on weight reduction to provide a responsive basketball shoe. Additionally, the Eclipse Plate 2.0 radically transformed the model, where an area of the midfoot had a hole to provide stability, bounce, and comfort. The Air Jordan had a large collaboration from current NBA players such as Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson, both having their own colorways, along with other prominent NBA players.
Air Jordan XXXVI Original Price: $185	2021	The Air Jordan XXXVI (36) was first-teased by German-American hooper Isatou "Satou" Sabally via social media, the model made its official on-court debut on March 25, 2021.
Air Jordan XXXVII	2022	The Air Jordan XXXVII (37) was released on July 28, 2022.

Collaborations

Air Jordan has collaborated with many brands and artists, having them create a unique Air Jordan to call their own. These include celebrities like Drake, Billie Eilish, J Balvin,[2] DJ Khaled, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, and Mark Wahlberg. After a collaboration with Nike on its Air Force One in 2017, rapper Travis Scott partnered with Jordan Brand to design Cactus Jack iterations of the Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 4 and Air Jordan 6.

Air Jordan has worked with streetwear companies, fashion houses and soccer clubs. Collaborations include Virgil Abloh and his brand Off-White, Supreme, Commes de Garcons, Kaws, Dior and Paris Saint-Germain.

Social and Cultural Impact

Air Jordans have become a huge symbol in sneaker culture and can be seen worn all around the world today. The impact of Air Jordans has expanded from basketball and into fashion, pop culture, and hip-hop. Air Jordans are a major staple in casual wear and streetwear culture. The popularity of the sneaker has risen from its connection to the hip-hop scene since 1985. Rappers in the 1990s including Notorious B.I.G., Ice Cube, and Jay-Z mention Jordan's sneakers and success in their music. They have also been seen on many iconic hip-hop album covers including Eazy-E wearing Air Jordan III on the Eazy Duz It album cover and music videos including "Otis" where Jay-Z and Kanye West are seen wearing the Air Jordan I and Air Jordans VI. The shoes have also been seen worn by many artists and celebrities on a casual and everyday basis. Collaborations between hip-hop artists and the Jordan brand have also driven popularity, including Travis Scott's "Cactus Jack" collaborations with the Jordan Brand and Nike. With the Jordan Brand having a huge impact on hip-hop culture, it has become a status symbol.

The Air Jordans have also been seen throughout television, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air where Will Smith can be seen wearing different models of the shoe throughout the show including the "Metallic" Air Jordan Vs in the pilot episode and the "Colombia" Air Jordan XI in the last episode of the series. With the impact that the show made on the Jordan Brand, they released a few pairs of Air Jordan Vs that associate to the show. The Air Jordans have also been referenced in Do the Right Thing, in a scene where the character Buggin' Out, played by Giancarlo Esposito, gets his Air Jordan IV scuffed by a bike on the sidewalk, and then confronts the man who scuffed his shoes and then opens a discussion on gentrification in Brooklyn. This film has impacted the Jordan Brand with the iconic quote that came from the scene "He stepped on my brand-new white Jordans!" and the brand even ended up releasing a replica of the "White Cement" Air Jordan IV in 2017 as seen in the movie, with the custom green, yellow and red laces and the scuff on the side of the shoe. Other sights and mentions of Air Jordans in television and film include He Got Game, the Air Jordan XIII were seen on Jake Shuttlesworth played by Denzel Washington and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, the Jordan Retro Is seen on animated Miles Morales. The Jordan Brand had made many appearances and references in film and television and had a great influence in shaping media and pop culture.

The shoes have also had a great impact on the rise of "sneakerhead" culture. In the 1970s, collecting sneakers have become more common, as well as trading and reselling them. As new models came out, more Air Jordans have become in demand and a significant shoe to have in collections. Reselling Air Jordans have become highly profitable and hundreds or thousands of dollars are spent on rare sneakers, including the original 1985 Air Jordan I on StockX selling up to $20,000. With the sneakers evolving overtime and introducing new models, the sneakers have been rising in value for collectors and becoming a staple in their collections.

Controversy

The polyurethane (PU) material that sits in the soles of many Air Jordan models is a cause of controversy and why many collectors find that their vintage pairs are so often unwearable. Known as PU degradation, polyurethane soles are susceptible to hydrolysis and oxidation, and shoes with this material have been found to have a poor aging performance. Nike does not provide information as to the type of PU they use in their Air Jordan lines, and have avoided answering questions in the past, as was the case in Wired's widely cited article on the PU controversy within the sneaker community, "We asked Nike about PU degradation and what might be done about it, but the company declined to comment."

The Air Jordan line has also been associated with many riots, assaults, robberies, and murders, such as the murder of a 15-year-old high school student named Michael Eugene Thomas who was choked to death by one of his peers for a pair of Air Jordan sneakers in 1989.

In 1988, principal Dr. Robin Oden of Mumford High School in Detroit mentioned that clothing-related violence had reached a point where he felt it was necessary to ban certain items of clothing, including the Air Jordan sneaker, from school grounds. This ban was the first of many dress codes implemented in schools after a wave of robberies, beatings, and shootings over possession of Air Jordan sneakers and other items of clothing.

Manufacturing

Nike owns none of the factories where Air Jordans are produced and contracts the work to various factory owners. Company officials say that they only design and market the shoes. However, Nike dictates production terms and standards to the contractor, often without questioning labor or safety practices. In April 1997, 10,000 Indonesian workers went on strike over wage violations at an Air Jordan factory. The same month in Vietnam 1,300 workers went on strike demanding a 1-cent-per-hour raise, and a year later in 1998, 3,000 workers in China went on strike to protest hazardous working conditions and low wages.

Sponsorships

Starting in 2016, Air Jordan became the sole equipment provider for the Michigan Wolverines American football team. This marked the brand's first venture into a sport besides basketball. As of 2023, Air Jordan was also the equipment provider for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Oklahoma Sooners, Florida Gators, and UCLA Bruins football programs.

In 2018, the Jordan brand sponsored an association football (soccer) club for the first time in its history, when French club Paris Saint-Germain F.C. displayed the Jumpman logo on their third kits, worn in the 2018–19 edition of UEFA Champions League.

American football

NCAA College Football

• University of Florida
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Michigan
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Howard University
• University of Houston

Association football

• Paris Saint-Germain

Auto racing

NASCAR

Teams

• 23XI Racing

Drivers

• Kurt Busch
• Denny Hamlin

Basketball

National teams

• Croatia
• France
• Slovenia

Africa

• DUC

NBA Official Statement

• National Basketball Association ("Statement" edition, NBA All-Star Game and Charlotte Hornets uniforms only)

NCAA Basketball Teams

• University of North Carolina
• University of Florida
• University of Oklahoma
• University of California, Los Angeles
• University of Houston
• Georgetown University
• Marquette University
• Howard University
• San Diego State University
• The University of Cincinnati

High school teams

• Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School

Other teams

• Ateneo de Manila University (Philippine college)

Players

NBA players

• Bam Adebayo
• Carmelo Anthony
• Bismack Biyombo
• Mike Conley Jr.
• Luka Dončić
• Andre Drummond
• Blake Griffin
• Rui Hachimura
• Victor Oladipo
• Bradley Beal
• Chris Paul
• Otto Porter Jr.
• Jayson Tatum
• Moe Wagner
• Kemba Walker
• Russell Westbrook
• Zion Williamson
• Cody Zeller

NFL players

• Dak Prescott
• Davante Adams

• Michael Thomas
• Stefon Diggs
• Jarvis Landry
• Chase Claypool
• Sterling Shepard
• Alshon Jeffery
• Kyle Pitts
• Melvin Ingram
• Bobby Wagner
• Devin White
• D'onta Hightower
• Stephon Gilmore
• Joe Haden
• Jamal Adams
• Tyrann Mathieu
• Deebo Samuels

Jordan Wings

The Jordan Brand partners with the UNCF and others to fund the higher education of underprivileged youth.

Looney Tunes and Space Jam

On January 26, 1992, Jordan Brand debuted a commercial during Super Bowl XXVI which showed Bugs Bunny enlisting the help of Michael Jordan to outsmart a bullying rival team using cartoon gags. A second ad premiered in 1993 featuring Bugs and Jordan facing off against Marvin the Martian. The ads inspired Jordan's agent, David Falk, to pitch a film starring Jordan and the Looney Tunes characters. The pitch resulted in Space Jam, a commercial success which grossed over $230 million at the box office and generated over $1 billion in merchandise sales. The success of the advertising campaign and the film contributed to the popularity of Looney Tunes and other cartoon characters as motifs in street fashion through the 1990s and 2000s.

Television and films

• Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1 (2018) at IMDb
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
• One Man and His Shoes (2020) at IMDb
• The Last Dance, sports documentary miniseries, "Episode V" (2020) at IMDb
• Air (2023)

See also

• Nike Air Force
• Nike Blazers
• Nike Air Max
• Sneaker collecting

Further reading

• Kamer, Foster (August 2015). "Air Jordan III: The Shocking Story of the Greatest Shoe Michael Jordan Never Wanted". Mental Floss.

External links

• "History of the Air Jordan franchise" at SneakerNews.com
• "Every Jordan Ever Made" at Nike
• "All Jordan Shoes"
• "Factual America Podcast, Episode 27: Air Jordan: A Cultural Phenomenon" where filmmakers Yemi Bamiro and Will Thorne talk about their documentary "One Man and His Shoes" and the history of Air Jordans.

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