Part of a photo shoot to promote Michael Jordan’s early years as a signature athlete for Nike, the Jumpman logo immediately brings back memories of MJ going airborne over opponents. Whether we were watching him glide toward the hoop on his way to winning the 1988 dunk contest, or dunk over the top of a 7-foot all-star, if we didn’t cheer it was because we were left speechless.
It’s that kind of awe-inspiring nostalgia that MJ’s signature brand, Jordan, captures and rekindles even today.
Kick back and remember
The Air Jordan, MJ’s first signature shoe that later became known as the Air Jordan I, lives on as one of his most popular re-releases. Nike began re-releasing popular silhouettes in 1994, three years before spinning off Jordan as its own brand. The Jordan Retro 1 was one of the first, complete with the Wings logo that was MJ’s first personal mark, and the only time a prominent Swoosh would appear on his signature kicks.
The Jordan Retro 3 recalls the 1988 classic that introduced elephant print and tumbled leather to the world of sportswear. It’s credited as the shoe that kept Jordan with Nike, as there was some uncertainty at the time whether he would stay with the company. New designer Tinker Hatfield took the time to listen to Michael and conceived of this beautiful creation.
For the Retro 5, Hatfield drew inspiration from the P-51 Mustang, a World War II fighter plane. This was one way to convey Jordan’s never-say-die attitude and ferocious approach on the courts. He was coming fast and furious, and you’d do well to defend against that!
The Jordan 6 Rings is a bit self-explanatory, in that it combines elements from each of the six signature shoes MJ wore during his title runs in Chicago. Those elements are all visible on the Retros 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 13.
Finish strong with Air apparel
No matter how you build your look from the ground up, you can finish strong with Jordan and Air apparel. There are the Diamond shorts that draw inspiration from MJ’s pro uniform, Retro-themed hoodies that hook up perfectly with your throwback kicks, and countless T-shirts that can go with a bold allover color or a simple color-keyed Jumpman logo.
