Jordan Shoes: A History of the Iconic Brand by Year

Jordan Brand, a subsidiary of Nike, has been at the forefront of athletic footwear since its inception in 1984. The brand's namesake, Michael Jordan, is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, and his signature shoes have become synonymous with style and performance. Over the years, Jordan Brand has released countless iconic models, each with its own unique design and technological advancements.

The Evolution of Jordan Shoes: A Year-by-Year Timeline

1984-1985: The Air Jordan 1

• The first Air Jordan shoe was designed by legendary Nike designer Peter Moore.
• It featured a unique high-top design with a padded collar and ankle support.
• The shoe's iconic "Wings" logo was inspired by the Greek god Hermes.
• The Air Jordan 1 was initially banned by the NBA for violating the league's uniform policy.
• Despite the ban, the shoe became immensely popular and is still considered one of the most iconic sneakers of all time.

1986-1987: The Air Jordan 2

• The Air Jordan 2 was designed by Bruce Kilgore, who also designed the Air Force 1.
• It featured a lower-cut design than the Air Jordan 1, with a more streamlined and aerodynamic look.
• The shoe introduced the use of premium materials, such as Italian leather.
• The Air Jordan 2 was less popular than its predecessor, but it remains a sought-after collectible among sneaker enthusiasts.

1988: The Air Jordan 3

• The Air Jordan 3 was designed by Tinker Hatfield, who would go on to create some of Jordan Brand's most iconic models.
• It featured a revolutionary design with a visible Air cushioning unit in the heel.
• The shoe also introduced the "Jumpman" logo, which has become synonymous with Jordan Brand.
• The Air Jordan 3 was a huge commercial success and is considered one of the most iconic sneakers ever made.

1989: The Air Jordan 4

• The Air Jordan 4 was designed by Tinker Hatfield and Mark Smith.
• It featured a unique mesh and leather upper with a distinctive "wings" design on the side.
• The shoe also introduced the use of visible carbon fiber, which added to its lightweight and durable construction.
• The Air Jordan 4 was another commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1990: The Air Jordan 5

• The Air Jordan 5 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by fighter planes, with a translucent rubber outsole and a reflective tongue.
• The shoe also introduced the "Shark Tooth" design on the midsole, which has become a signature element of Jordan Brand shoes.
• The Air Jordan 5 was a huge commercial success and is still one of the most sought-after Jordan models today.

1991-1992: The Air Jordan 6

• The Air Jordan 6 was designed by Peter Moore.
• It featured a lower-cut design than previous Jordan models, with a more streamlined and athletic look.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a neoprene inner bootie, which provided a snug and comfortable fit.
• The Air Jordan 6 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1993: The Air Jordan 7

• The Air Jordan 7 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by African art, with a speckled midsole and a vibrant color palette.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a phylon midsole, which provided lightweight cushioning.
• The Air Jordan 7 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1994: The Air Jordan 8

• The Air Jordan 8 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by race cars, with a streamlined upper and a carbon fiber midsole.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Air cushioning unit, which provided unparalleled impact protection.
• The Air Jordan 8 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1995: The Air Jordan 9

• The Air Jordan 9 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by golf shoes, with a cleated outsole and a waterproof upper.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a neoprene inner bootie, which provided a snug and comfortable fit.
• The Air Jordan 9 was less popular than previous Jordan models, but it remains a sought-after collectible among sneaker enthusiasts.

1996: The Air Jordan 10

• The Air Jordan 10 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by the human body, with a molded upper and a rubber outsole that mimicked the shape of a foot.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Air cushioning unit, which provided unparalleled impact protection.
• The Air Jordan 10 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1997-1998: The Air Jordan 11

• The Air Jordan 11 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by a tuxedo, with a patent leather upper and a carbon fiber midsole.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Zoom Air cushioning unit, which provided unparalleled cushioning and responsiveness.
• The Air Jordan 11 was a huge commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1999: The Air Jordan 12

• The Air Jordan 12 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by the Japanese rising sun, with a quilted upper and a rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Air cushioning unit, which provided unparalleled impact protection.
• The Air Jordan 12 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

2000-2001: The Air Jordan 13

• The Air Jordan 13 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by a panther, with a fur-like upper and a rubber outsole with a cat's paw pattern.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Zoom

Jordan Shoes: A History of the Iconic Brand by Year

Jordan Brand, a subsidiary of Nike, has been at the forefront of athletic footwear since its inception in 1984. The brand's namesake, Michael Jordan, is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, and his signature shoes have become synonymous with style and performance. Over the years, Jordan Brand has released countless iconic models, each with its own unique design and technological advancements.

The Evolution of Jordan Shoes: A Year-by-Year Timeline

1984-1985: The Air Jordan 1

• The first Air Jordan shoe was designed by legendary Nike designer Peter Moore.
• It featured a unique high-top design with a padded collar and ankle support.
• The shoe's iconic "Wings" logo was inspired by the Greek god Hermes.
• The Air Jordan 1 was initially banned by the NBA for violating the league's uniform policy.
• Despite the ban, the shoe became immensely popular and is still considered one of the most iconic sneakers of all time.

1986-1987: The Air Jordan 2

• The Air Jordan 2 was designed by Bruce Kilgore, who also designed the Air Force 1.
• It featured a lower-cut design than the Air Jordan 1, with a more streamlined and aerodynamic look.
• The shoe introduced the use of premium materials, such as Italian leather.
• The Air Jordan 2 was less popular than its predecessor, but it remains a sought-after collectible among sneaker enthusiasts.

1988: The Air Jordan 3

• The Air Jordan 3 was designed by Tinker Hatfield, who would go on to create some of Jordan Brand's most iconic models.
• It featured a revolutionary design with a visible Air cushioning unit in the heel.
• The shoe also introduced the "Jumpman" logo, which has become synonymous with Jordan Brand.
• The Air Jordan 3 was a huge commercial success and is considered one of the most iconic sneakers ever made.

1989: The Air Jordan 4

• The Air Jordan 4 was designed by Tinker Hatfield and Mark Smith.
• It featured a unique mesh and leather upper with a distinctive "wings" design on the side.
• The shoe also introduced the use of visible carbon fiber, which added to its lightweight and durable construction.
• The Air Jordan 4 was another commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1990: The Air Jordan 5

• The Air Jordan 5 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by fighter planes, with a translucent rubber outsole and a reflective tongue.
• The shoe also introduced the "Shark Tooth" design on the midsole, which has become a signature element of Jordan Brand shoes.
• The Air Jordan 5 was a huge commercial success and is still one of the most sought-after Jordan models today.

1991-1992: The Air Jordan 6

• The Air Jordan 6 was designed by Peter Moore.
• It featured a lower-cut design than previous Jordan models, with a more streamlined and athletic look.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a neoprene inner bootie, which provided a snug and comfortable fit.
• The Air Jordan 6 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1993: The Air Jordan 7

• The Air Jordan 7 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by African art, with a speckled midsole and a vibrant color palette.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a phylon midsole, which provided lightweight cushioning.
• The Air Jordan 7 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1994: The Air Jordan 8

• The Air Jordan 8 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by race cars, with a streamlined upper and a carbon fiber midsole.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Air cushioning unit, which provided unparalleled impact protection.
• The Air Jordan 8 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1995: The Air Jordan 9

• The Air Jordan 9 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by golf shoes, with a cleated outsole and a waterproof upper.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a neoprene inner bootie, which provided a snug and comfortable fit.
• The Air Jordan 9 was less popular than previous Jordan models, but it remains a sought-after collectible among sneaker enthusiasts.

1996: The Air Jordan 10

• The Air Jordan 10 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by the human body, with a molded upper and a rubber outsole that mimicked the shape of a foot.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Air cushioning unit, which provided unparalleled impact protection.
• The Air Jordan 10 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1997-1998: The Air Jordan 11

• The Air Jordan 11 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by a tuxedo, with a patent leather upper and a carbon fiber midsole.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Zoom Air cushioning unit, which provided unparalleled cushioning and responsiveness.
• The Air Jordan 11 was a huge commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

1999: The Air Jordan 12

• The Air Jordan 12 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by the Japanese rising sun, with a quilted upper and a rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Air cushioning unit, which provided unparalleled impact protection.
• The Air Jordan 12 was a commercial success and is still one of the most popular Jordan models today.

2000-2001: The Air Jordan 13

• The Air Jordan 13 was designed by Tinker Hatfield.
• It featured a unique design inspired by a panther, with a fur-like upper and a rubber outsole with a cat's paw pattern.
• The shoe also introduced the use of a full-length Zoom