25 Years of Air Jordan

A quarter-century after the Air Jordan appeared on the court, Michael Jordan’s name still carries weight. And his basketball shoes still have die-hard fans. In celebration of the Air Jordan’s 25th year, Jordan Brand, a division of Beaverton, OR-based Nike Inc., has unveiled the Air Jordan 2010 shoe, which will debut on the feet of today’s basketball phenom—and Team Jordan athlete—Dwayne Wade.

A quarter-century after the Air Jordan appeared on the court, Michael Jordan’s name still carries weight. And his basketball shoes still have die-hard fans. In celebration of the Air Jordan’s 25th year, Jordan Brand, a division of Beaverton, OR-based Nike Inc., has unveiled the Air Jordan 2010 shoe, which will debut on the feet of today’s basketball phenom—and Team Jordan athlete—Dwayne Wade.
“The celebration of the Air Jordan 2010 and our 25th anniversary are the pinnacle of a year full of milestones for me,” Jordan says. “With each shoe, consumers have pushed me to take the next Air Jordan beyond their wildest imagination.”
Developed by Jordan along with Tinker Hatfield, Nike’s vice president of special projects/design, and Mark Smith, creative director for Jordan Brand, the latest installment features a layered toe construction with an independent forefoot support cover. This construction allows the shoe to mimic the flexibility of one’s foot, meaning less inhibition and more freedom for quick, agile movements. More visibly, the shoe has a transparent thermoplastic urethane (TPU) window on the upper—inspired by Jordan’s ability to “see through” his opponents on the court. “The Air Jordan 2010 pays homage to Jordan’s ability to know his opponents next move, while only giving hints of his ability and allowing the players to only see what he wanted them to see on the court,” Hatfield explains. The shoe will launch nationwide on Feb. 13; fans can purchase the latest piece of Jordan’s legacy for a suggested retail price of $170.

The September 2024 Issue

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