If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past 35 years, then you have probably heard about one of the most iconic sneakers on the market, the Air Jordan. Named for basketball superstar, Michael Jordan, these shoes have become a household name since they first debuted in the mid-1980s.
It takes a lot for a shoe to become an icon in fashion, so how did it land such a prominent place in shoe history? Read on to learn all about their history!
It Started with the Jordan 1
Long before Michael Jordan came along, the NBA started a committed relationship with Converse. That’s right, NBA players were rocking Chuck Taylors on the courts until the mid-1980s. Michael Jordan, however, was a superstar, and he knew that partnering with Converse just wasn’t going to let him carve out his niche in shoe history.
Jordan then turned to Nike to create the iconic Air Jordan 1; a red, black, and white high-top sneaker. Nike expected the shoes to be popular, but they couldn’t have predicted that they were going to exceed their initial sales goal by $123 million in the first year of sales.
They Were Initially Banned
Naturally, when you have your own sneakers, you’re going to want to wear them on the court at all of your games. Michael Jordan did just that, and it made huge waves with the NBA.
At the time, the NBA had a rule that sneakers worn during games had to be mostly white and contain the colors of the team’s jersey. The first Air Jordans were mostly red and black, so the NBA banned them. It has been reported that the NBA fined Michael Jordan $5,000 every time he wore his famous kicks during a game. Naturally, Nike loved the publicity they garnered and willingly paid out all the fines that Jordan accrued.
From Banned to Status Symbol
The Air Jordan has not waned in popularity since their introduction, even though Michael Jordan has long since retired from professional play. During the 80s and 90s, every cool kid had several pairs of Air Jordans in their closet.
Today, you can buy the latest iterations of the Air Jordan at online retailers like kickscrew.com in order to stack your wardrobe with the hottest sneakers around. Based on the history, it’s evident that the Air Jordan is going to be around for years to come.
Do You Love Shoe History?
The Air Jordan’s extraordinary popularity and iconic style have left it firmly planted in the hallowed halls of shoe history. For some, the Air Jordan is a status symbol they rock on a daily basis, while others choose to keep their revered collection of kicks safely locked away at home. However you rock your Air Jordans, you’re bound to look good doing it.
If you loved learning all about the history of Air Jordans, then you probably have a hankering to learn more about what’s fresh in fashion. Thankfully, you’re in the right place to do that! Check out the rest of our blog for tons of inspiring content!
