Dissecting the Air Jordan VIII 'University of Oregon' PE Design

Looking through the lineage of Air Jordan sneakers, a handful of models stand out for one reason or another. In some cases it’s due to the sheer innovation on display. In others it’s because of the myth that surrounds the design, a culmination of story after story. The Air Jordan VIII is the rare shoe that reflects both of these touchpoints, renowned for its fearless aesthetic language and steeped in MJ lore.

Designed by sneaker legend Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan VIII debuted on the feet of Michael Jordan during All-Star Weekend in 1993, surfacing in an ‘Aqua’ colorway, followed by the ‘Hare’ and ‘Playoffs’ builds. On June 20, 1993 Michael Jordan cemented the AJ VIII as an icon of basketball and style, as he led the Chicago Bulls to their third straight NBA Championship, defeating Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. Years later, the Air Jordan VIII became a go-to Player Exclusive for a roster of all-time greats including Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen and Mike Bibby, adding to the shoe’s historic reputation.

Now, the next chapter of the Air Jordan VIII begins with the 2022 'University of Oregon' PE. Available exclusively via auction with proceeds benefiting participating University of Oregon student-athletes, we dissect the groundbreaking silhouette feature by feature and detail by detail.