When it came time for the third installment of Michael Jordan’s signature shoe to be designed and released by Nike, MJ wasn’t even sure if he wanted to stay with the company. His contract was coming up for renewal, the designers of his first two Air Jordans had left to start their own venture, and they were more than willing to welcome MJ aboard.
A historic opportunity for the Air Jordan Retro 3
But in stepped a young designer named Tinker Hatfield. He’d already designed the Nike Air Max running shoe and the Nike Air Trainer, so he brought some credibility on his maiden voyage into basketball footwear.
MJ had come to the pitch meeting late, after golfing with the departed designers, and Hatfield – originally hired by Nike as a corporate architect – had one opportunity to sell him on his design. So he took a novel approach.
He listened.
Then he recounted all the details Michael had said he wanted in his next shoe. And when Hatfield presented him with the prototype of the Air Jordan III, including the new Jumpman logo on the tongue, Michael was sold. And history was made.
What the Air Jordan 3 is like
The Jordan Retro 3 revives all of the details that made the original great: the tumbled leather upper that gave it a luxury look, visible Air unit in the heel and low-profile Air unit in the forefoot, and the iconic elephant print on the foxing around the upper.
A removable Durapontex sockliner gives you a supportive fit that minimizes heat build-up, and a Cupsole in the heel is part of a solid rubber outsole that features flex grooves to help your foot bend naturally.
A legacy leaps forward
The Retro 3 also represents the first of 13 straight Air Jordans designed by Hatfield, who devised more than 20 overall in the ongoing series.
Hatfield followed up his opening act with the Air Jordan IV, later re-released as the Retro 4, which was the one Jordan wore when he hit “The Shot” that propelled Chicago beyond Cleveland in the 1989 playoffs.
The Retro 6 was Jordan’s first championship shoe, which he wore when he guided Chicago past L.A. and took home finals MVP honors.
There are lots of ways to represent these moments under the Jordan Retro label. Most Jordan Retros are available as slides. And however you start your Retro look, you can complete it with a variety of Retro-themed Jordan apparel. Short- and long-sleeve T-shirts, hoodies, shorts, and fleece pants give you a look for all time.
