The originators: Jordan shoes
Nike Air Jordans are a staple in every basketball fan’s footwear collection. Not only are they a comfortable trainer for playing sport, they’re also available in a huge range of colours and designs to suit all styles. Often considered a collector’s item, new releases of the signature shoe sell out time and time again. While other styles come and go, the cult status of the Air Jordan is only ever getting stronger.
The Design of Jordan shoes
First released in 1984 under the Nike brand, Air Jordans were designed by former basketball player Michael Jordan. Although he initially wanted to partner with Adidas, it was his mother who convinced him to sign the deal with Nike. And it was lucky he did – the success of his retro shoes was completely unprecedented, with sales totalling over $100 million in their first year. Thanks to their excellent comfort and innovative design, the high-tops became a classic status symbol in the late 80s and 90s. Exact total sales figures are unknown, but eBay published data showing that shoppers had bought over 17 million Michael Jordan items from their platform in the last decade alone.
A true icon with a modern twist
As of today, there are 35 different styles of the signature Air Jordan shoe – and that doesn’t include the many different colourways and retro versions. Although some of the designs and outsoles look dramatically different, the collection as a whole includes some of the most daring styles on the market. Each new release has drawn more hype than the last. As well as the signature high-top AJ trainers, low-top Jordans are also available. Despite not achieving the same success as the popular highs, Nike brought back the underrated Air Jordan 1 Lows in the early 2000s in a variety of old-school colourways. If you’re looking for an all-time classic, the Air Jordan XI shoes arrived on the scene in 1996 and their design is still highly coveted today.
Do Jordan shoes run big or small?
Neither! Air Jordans fit true to size – and their sizing hasn’t changed very much at all since their first ever designs. This is true of all of their high-top and low-top styles. If your feet are narrow and you prefer a snugger fit, try going down a half-size.
Find your perfect pair of Air Jordans at SNIPES
Ready to pick up a pair of the trainers that revolutionised athletic footwear? SNIPES makes it easy with a huge variety of styles to suit every taste. Get back to the good old days and treat yourself to some legendary kicks! New season, new you!
