Designed in 1987 by the legendary Tinker Hatfield, the Nike Air Max 1 was the first shoe to ever have a visible Air Max unit. While running shoes and Air Max technology will always continue to evolve, the Air Max 1 is a masterpiece, and its design still looks modern more than 25 years after its inception. This 2013 release of the Air Max 1 gets its bright and lively “Fresh Mint” and “Pink Flash” colorway from Nike’s latest Football (Soccer) line, the FC247 Collection. Of course, the black, pink, and green found on the shoes have made fans associate these and the FC247 Roshe Run with the Nike Air Yeezy 2.
These Air Max 1′s come come with a black mesh and leather upper that is wrapped in Mint Green leather at the white midsole. The inner lining is also in Mint Green. The Air unit and waffle outsole come in Pink Flash and compliment the black and Mint green perfectly. Like a lot of legendary designs from the same era, Nike Air is found embroidered on the back of the shoes. An overall great color update for the silhouette that started it all for shoes with a visible Air unit. Whether fans know they were inspired by the FC247 line or think they were inspired by the Yeezy 2, it is nice to see fans paying attention to the legendary Air Max 1 again in 2013. Please see my video below for a more in depth look at the shoes.
The Air Jordan 3 Retro ’88 is set to restock online at Footlocker.Com and Footaction.Com on Saturday, May 25th for $200. The “Fire Red” Air Jordan 3 Retro is set to return again (originally Retro’d in 2007) on August 3, 2013. If that is why you came here, there you go. If you want to read a long story about my love for the Air Jordan 3, continue. HAHA.
I got my first pair of Air Jordan 3′s as a 9 year old in 1994. The pair was the 1994 re-release of the Nike Air Jordan 3 in black and Cement Grey. They weren’t called Retro’s (not until the 4′s re-released in 1999) and they were even discounted at the Nike Outlet in Lake Elsinore, CA. Being born in 1985, I did not know much about Michael Jordan’s shoes from 1988 except that he wore them in the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, and that he wore the white and Cement Grey 3′s in one of his most iconic moments (and posters) of his career. That being the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago. I love everything about the 3 from it being the first Air Jordan with a Jumpman logo and visible Air to its use of elephant print. The Nike Air logo on the back of the shoes was just as important to me as any other feature. Its silhouette has stood the test of time as it still looks better than anything that is on the market today.
When I got more serious about not only wearing, but collecting Air Jordan’s when I was in the 8th grade in 1999, when the Air Jordan 4 Retro’s came out, a pair I really wanted to have was the Air Jordan 3 in white and Cement Grey. Unfortunately for me at 14, prices for the 1994 re-release were far beyond my budget. I enjoyed Retro releases of the 5, 6, and 11 while I waited and hoped for the 3 to be released again. When the black and Cement 3′s came out again in 2001, I got them and was extremely happy as they reminded me of the 1994 pair from my childhood. I continued to wait patiently for the white and Cement 3 and was treated with special releases along the way like the white and Columbia Blue and black and True Red Air Jordan 11′s.
When pictures of the white and True Blue Air Jordan 3 Retro with a Jumpman logo instead of Nike Air on the back leaked in 2001, I was devastated because I knew it would affect the white and Cement Grey 3′s whenever they released again. They would butcher the shoe I had longed for most. The white and Cement Grey 3′s with a Jumpman on the back would not be true to the originals. They would not be like the ones Mike wore in 1988 or even like the 1994 re-release. The shoes were finally set to come out in 2003. During my senior year of high school, my priorities became my car, going out, and preparing for college. The missing Nike Air on the 3′s made it easier for me to sort of forget about Air Jordan’s. The last Air Jordan’s I bought back then were the black and red 11 Retro’s at the end of 2001 until the white and Fire Red 5′s and black and Aqua Tone 8′s finally came out again in around 2007.
Looking back, I overreacted and have since enjoyed later Air Jordan 3 and 4 Retro’s that have come with a Jumpman instead of Nike Air. It’s just that Air Jordan’s were such a big part of my childhood and it was extremely hard to accept the change at the time. I eventually got over it (HAHA) and was even excited to own the Air Jordan 3 white and Cement Retro that came out again in 2011. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Michael Jordan’ 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest win last February, Jordan Brand brought back the white and Cement 3 with Nike Air on the back. They released on February 6 at the exact time MJ’s feet left the free throw line of the Chicago Stadium floor to perform his legendary dunk. They were only available online in limited quantities and sold out immediately. They were priced at $200, while the 2011 pairs with the Jumpman retailed at only $150. The 2013 Air Jordan 3 Retro ’88 and 2011 Retro are exactly the same, except for the Nike Air on the back and on the hang tag. The bottoms of the ’88 pair still have “JORDAN” instead of “NIKE”.
The Air Jordan 3 Retro ’88 is set to restock online at Footlocker.Com and Footaction.Com on Saturday, May 25th for $200. Many that wanted them in February could not get them, and pairs have been selling on ebay for more than $300. If you were not able to get them before, I wish you the best this time around. Beat those re-sellers to the checkout! In 2003, it meant everything to me to have the white and Cement 3 with Nike Air instead of a Jumpman. In 2013, it doesn’t really mean that much.
Despite not being as iconic as its brothers, the Air Jordan 3 in white and Fire Red has become my favorite of all the 3′s in recent years. The Fire Red on the Jumpman logos, inner lining, collar, and midsole makes the shoe stand out more to me. I love the darker elephant print on the Fire Red 3′s, which contrasts well with the lighter shade of grey on the tongue and near the shoelace eyelets. These were finally re-released for the first time in 2007. They will return again on August 3 as a general release similar to the 2007 Retro with Jumpman logos instead of Nike Air.
Worn by Michael Jordan during the 1989-1990 NBA Season, the Air Jordan 5 is one of my favorite pair of Air Jordan’s. As we all know, they were designed by Tinker Hatfield after a World War II fighter plane and they were the shoes that Michael Jordan wore when he scored his NBA career high of 69 points against the Cavs. When they were finally re-released in 2000 when I was 15 years old, I was able to own my first pair of Air Jordan 5′s.
The Air Jordan 5′s known as “The Grapes” in white, New Emerald, and Grape Ice were re-released again on May 4, 2013. They were originally released in 1990 and were retro’d for the first time in 2006. They are some of my favorite Air Jordan’s ever made in non-Bulls’ colors. In predominantly white leather, they feature a Grape reflective tongue, an Emerald Jumpman, and clear netting on the sides. The Air Jordan 5′s were the first in the line to come with lace locks and a clear outsole. The “Grape” Jordan 5 has a Grape and Emerald midsole that surrounds a visible heel air unit. The bottom of the outsoles have “JORDAN” instead of “NIKE”. They come with Emerald Jumpman logos on the back and not Nike Air like the originals. The latest retro’s were released on May 4 for $160, but sold out immediately.
The Air Jordan 5 Premio Bin 23 was released on February 18, 2011. Of all the premium “Bin 23″ models, they are the truest to the original. They are obviously inspired by the Air Jordan 5 in black, red, and Metallic Silver. On this model, the base was replaced with a premium and luxurious black leather. The pair retains the Metallic Silver reflective tongue, red Jumpman, and lace locks from the original, white the clear netting is now black. The black and silver midsole that surround the heel air unit and clear outsole are unchanged, except for the lack of Nike branding. They also come with the white lace switch like MJ used to do with his own black 5′s in 1990. The 23 on the heel is black on the Bin instead of white and the red Bin 23 seal of approval is found on the back of both shoes instead of a Jumpman. The “Bin 23″ Air Jordan 5 can sell on ebay for as much as $1,300.
