Your shopping region is
Resources

Beginner's Guide to Air Jordan Sneakers

Everything you need to know about Michael Jordan's iconic footwear series.

Author: Graeme Campbell PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 11, 2022 UPDATED: September 30, 2024
hero

 

Air Jordan Origin Story


Nike launched the Air Jordan 1 in 1985, marking a new dawn for performance footwear and the wider sneaker industry. Worn by Michael Jordan during the 1984-85 season, the release became instantly iconic, creating a template for the modern player. 

According to a popular urban legend, the shoe was banned by the NBA for featuring “non-regulation” colors, with MJ incurring a $5,000 fine every time he stepped onto the court in a pair. In reality, it was the lesser-known Air Ship model that fell foul of the rules. Nike used the story to reconstruct the narrative around the Air Jordan 1 and highlight its renegade quality. The silhouette’s legend was cemented in an ad that saw Jordan bouncing a ball as a narrator says, “On October 18, the NBA threw them out of the game. Fortunately, the NBA can't stop you from wearing them. Air Jordans. From Nike."

Since this pivotal moment in the mid ’80s, Jordan Brand—then a division of Nike—has become one of the world’s most respected footwear and apparel brands. 

History of Air Jordan Brand


Jordan Brand’s presence, propelled by the Air Jordan line, extends beyond basketball, from pop culture collaborations to sports such as football, golf, soccer and baseball. This mirrors Jordan’s personal pursuits, himself a keen golfer and a former baseball player.

Following the resounding success of the Air Jordan 1, Nike established a prolific release schedule. By 2020, over 30 unique shoes in the Air Jordan lineage had been released, each named in numerical order. Today, Jordan shoes are not only worn off the court but on the court in the NBA by other players. Notable names include Russell Westbrook, Zion Williamson, Carmelo Anthony and Luka Dončić.

In 2018, French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain announced Jordan Brand as its uniform sponsor, marking the brand’s first-ever collaboration with a soccer club. The creative partnership also saw the release of various Air Jordan sneakers.

Michael Jordan’s personality has been a source of inspiration for numerous Air Jordan designers, including notable sneaker icons Tinker Hatfield, Bruce Kilgore and Peter Moore. The brand’s creative direction includes equally notable names, such as Frank Cooke, Tate Kuerbis and Kelsey Amy, joined by third-party collaborators like Off White’s Virgil Abloh, Eminem, Travis Scott, Kim Jones and Aleali May.

Iconic Air Jordan Silhouettes


Below is an overview of the most iconic Air Jordan sneakers. For a deeper dive into Jordan Brand, consult our Air Jordan history guide.


Air Jordan 1


The foundational Air Jordan 1 was designed by Peter Moore and released in 1985. Widely regarded as the most influential shoe in sneaker history, it launched Jordan Brand to the forefront of the cultural conversation and signaled a sea change for the footwear industry.

Key colorways: ‘Chicago,’ Banned,’ ‘Royal,’ ‘Shattered Backboard,’ ‘Obsidian,’ 'Lucky Green’ 


Air Jordan 3


The Tinker Hatfield-designed Air Jordan 3 was released in 1988. The AJ3 made the Air sole unit visible for the first time in the line’s history and featured a new Jumpman logo on the tongue. Additionally, the silhouette introduced the now-iconic elephant print to MJ’s signature series.

Key colorways: ‘White Cement,’ ‘Black Cement,’ ‘UNC,’ ‘True Blue


Air Jordan 4


Hatfield followed up the AJ3 with the Air Jordan 4, making minor alterations to its predecessor, such as the addition of a wing lace structure, mesh side panel and extended heel tab. Jordan wore the shoe during his famous 44-point performance in game five against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs.

Key colorways: ‘White Cement,’ ‘Black Cement,’ ‘Fire Red’ 


Air Jordan 6


Hatfield presented the Air Jordan 6 in 1991, moving away from the design ethos that imbued the 3, 4 and 5. Inspired by Jordan’s love of sports cars, the shoe was more dynamic in its construction than what had come before, even featuring a heel tab said to mimic the spoiler found on a Porsche 911. Jordan wore the AJ6 when he secured his first of six NBA titles.

Key colorways: ‘Infrared,’ ‘Sport Blue,’ ‘Carmine’ 


Air Jordan 11


Jordan and Hatfield’s favorite silhouette in the Air Jordan family, the AJ11 was designed for Mike’s triumphant return to the NBA in 1995. The innovative basketball sneaker introduced ballistic mesh, patent leather, and a clear sole enhanced with full-length Air and a carbon fiber shank plate.

Key colorways: ‘Concord,’ ‘Legend Blue,’ 'Cool Grey'



Iconic Air Jordan Collaborators 

Air Jordans continue to serve as a blank canvas for creative collaborators. Below, a list of the most iconic.


Dior


The first luxury collaboration in Air Jordan’s history arrived courtesy of Dior. Masterminded by artistic director Kim Jones, the house’s interpretation of the Air Jordan 1 High and Low—better known the Air Dior—features a white and grey upper constructed from Italian leather with hand-painted edges. Branding hits take the form of a Dior woven tongue tag, a Nike Swoosh in Dior Oblique jacquard, an Air Dior Wings logo and icy outsoles revealing a Dior wordmark.


UNDFTD


Jordan Brand’s first-ever collaboration arrived in 2005 alongside Los Angeles-based brand and sneaker boutique UNDFTD. Limited to 72 pairs, the olive suede shoe was inspired by the MA-1 flight jacket.


Off-White


Virgil Abloh’s Off-White teamed up with Nike for ‘The Ten’ in 2017, a project that saw the designer rework 10 iconic silhouettes from the brand's extensive archive, including Jordan Brand and Converse. The pack’s flagship silhouette was a reconstructed Air Jordan 1 that subscribed to a DIY-design mentality, replete with exposed stitches, “AIR” midsole text and a red zip tie.


Eminem


Eminem has reworked Air Jordans several times over the course of his career, including a blacked-out ‘Carhartt’ 4 that was made exclusively for Friends and Family in 2015. The sneaker incorporates the rapper’s signature reverse “E” logo and a Jason Voorhees mask at the heel.


Travis Scott


Travis Scott and Jordan Brand are repeat collaborators, with the rapper bringing his aesthetic framework to various Air Jordans. Highlights include the reverse Swoosh Air Jordan 1 ‘Mocha’,  Jordan 1 'Black Phantom,' Jordan 4 'Cactus Jack' and his own silhouette Jordan Cut The Check


Union LA


Los Angeles streetwear store Union LA is a regular collaborator with Jordan Brand, bringing a spirited touch to a wide range of silhouettes. In 2018, the duo released the Air Jordan 1 in ‘Black Toe’ and ‘Storm Blue’ colorways that were immediately regarded as modern classics.


Supreme

Supreme’s long-standing collaborative partnership with Nike has also permeated the Jordan Brand universe. 2015 saw the emergence of a trio of Air Jordan 5 silhouettes, featuring “94 PE” stitching in tribute to Supreme’s founding and “SUP” on the side netting.


KAWS


Released in 2017, artist Brian “KAWS” Donnelly’s ‘Grey’ and ‘Black’ suede Air Jordan 6 silhouettes are pared back in their execution. Closer inspection, however, reveals a translucent outsole that glows in the dark. 


Drake


Drake has drenched numerous Air Jordan sneakers in OVO’s signature black, white and gold color palette. A handful of exclusives, as well as 8, 10 and 12 silhouettes have fallen under the OVO umbrella. Notable releases include a Raptors-themed Air Jordan 4 and a Trunner LX that celebrated the opening of Jordan Brand’s Toronto store.

Top Jordans


How to Style Air Jordans


The Air Jordan lineup is vast, with a shoe for all styles. Although typically associated with streetwear, models such as the AJ1 and AJ11 are increasingly paired with formalwear to add a touch of contrast. Generally, Air Jordans are considered an all-season sneaker, suited to jeans in winter or shorts in summer.

After designers like Kim Jones and Virgil Abloh heralded a new relationship between the worlds of luxury and streetwear, Air Jordans have been worn with tailored styles from Dior, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and more. Rapper A$AP Rocky is a key figure in the high-low movement, often wearing Air Jordans with baggy pants from the likes of Balenciaga


Air Jordan Sneaker FAQ

Who is the creative director of  Air Jordan?

A number of iconic designers have created Air Jordans since the line’s inception, including Tinker Hatfield, Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore. Today, Nike and Jordan Brand’s network of creatives is vast, with various creative and art directors contributing to the direction of the brand.

When did Air Jordan start? 

The first Air Jordan was released in 1985. In 1997, Nike established Air Jordan as an independent operation of Jordan Brand.

What does "Breds" mean?

Breds” is a portmanteau of black and red. It is used to describe sneakers in this colorway.

What are popular Jordan colorways? 

Popular Air Jordan colorways include: 

Who started the Air Jordan brand?

Jordan Brand was established as a subsidiary of Nike in 1997. The Air Jordan series was created for Michael Jordan with the release of the Air Jordan 1 in 1985.

When is the next Air Jordan sneaker release?

Which shoes are restocking as part of the Jordan Reserve event on September 27, 2023?

The following sneakers are restocking for the Jordan Reserve event on September 27, 2023:

Where to buy Air Jordan sneakers?

You can buy Air Jordan sneakers on GOAT. Explore a selection of Air Jordan sneakers here.

How to tell if Air Jordans are fake? 

GOAT uses machine-learning technology, digital authentication, in-hand verification or a combination of these methods to determine if sneakers are fake or real. By doing so, we seek to ensure the Air Jordans you purchase are both authentic and as described.

How to resell Air Jordans?

You can resell Air Jordans on GOAT or on alias, the official selling app of GOAT and Flight Club.

Where to buy Air Jordans for under retail?

You can buy Air Jordans for under retail on GOAT. Explore a selection of Air Jordans under retail here.