The History of the Air Jordan 3
The AJ3 is a model that regularly sits atop ‘Best Jordans of All Time’ lists and is heralded as one of the best sneakers ever designed - the word ‘iconic’ is regularly used to describe it, and it’s not wrong. Ask most sneakerheads which shoe they think anyone worth their salt should own, and invariably the response is the Jordan 3. With its unique history and ground-breaking elephant print, there’s plenty of reasons to love this iconic model.
It was produced in 1987 just as Michael Jordan was ready to part ways with Nike. His first sneaker deal was coming to an end; a deal that saw him receive $500,000 a year, 5% royalties and his own line of sneakers. An incredible deal to receive as a rookie - but his eyes were wandering - so it was going to take something special for him to stick with the Swoosh. In came Tinker Hatfield.
Tinker was assigned the enormous task of holding on to one of the giants of the game, and having only the Air Max 1 and Air Trainer 1 to his name, had his work cut out for him. As if this wasn’t enough, Jordan was hoping adidas would put an offer on the table as well. He was such a fan of adidas that he used to train in them in college, even though the Tar Heels were sponsored by Converse.
Hatfield took it back to basics, and simply asked Michael what he wanted; the answer was ‘mid-cut and light weight’. They discussed Jordan’s interests, and exotic animals came up in conversation. Tinker then had a moment of genius and decided to incorporate faux elephant print, providing a more luxurious look.
He didn’t stop there; throwing in visible air units and a sizeable personalised logo on the tongue. A logo that was allegedly inspired by a LIFE Magazine photoshoot for the 1984 Olympics - in which Jordan was actually wearing the New Balance BB480.
Clearly Nike were happy too, as Tinker Hatfield would go on to design the next 12 Jordan models.
Although we have Tinker to thank for creating the shoe, its film director/producer/screenwriter/actor Spike Lee who brought them to our attention. His minimalist but impactful ad campaigns, featuring MJ, moved sneakers like no other.
Bringing back his famous Mars Blackmon character from his 1986 film ‘She’s Gotta Have It’, he would team up with MJ in short, monochromatic ads. There would be dunks, sure, but it was the storytelling and originality of the ads that made them memorable. Most importantly, you could see the White/Cement on Spike’s feet in one ad, and the Black/Cement on MJ’s in the other.
“You know, nobody in the world could cover my main man, Michael Jordan.”
You’re right Mars.
Although Spike Lee would project the sneakers into our homes, it was MJ who would etch the sneakers into our minds with his inimitable style of play. In 1988 alone, he won the League MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Star Game MVP and of course, the Slam Dunk Contest, and it made us believe that if we had the shoes, we could do it too.
The four OG colorways released were White/Cement, Black/Cement, True Blue and Fire Red. The Black/Cement is generally held as a grail for a majority of sneakerheads, but interestingly, MJ only ever wore it in one game; the 1988 All-Star Game.
Although the OGs have proved they can stand the test of time, some collaborations have since shown what a great canvas the Three is for designers willing, and able, to take it on; such as the A Ma Maniere x Air Jordan 3 with their tonal greys and off-white sole, the Fragment’s with their concord-esque black and white design, and Justin Timberlake's JTH, with his take of the Tinker Hatfield Jordan 3, sporting the Swoosh as per Hatfield’s original sketches.
There’s also the ATMOS x AJ3 Retro ‘Safari’ celebrating the Air Max 1 Safari, and of course, the Jordan 3 x Slim Shady - with a surprise debut in a Superbowl performance from Eminem himself.
The Air Jordan 3 crossed boundaries into hip hop with the Eminem collab, and was also seen on the feet of none other than Hov himself, Jay-Z, on numerous occasions.
Air Jordan 3: Answering Your Questions
When was the Air Jordan 3 first released?
The Air Jordan 3 was introduced in 1988. The silhouette was the third sneaker in the Jordan line, and compared to the Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 2, offered a mid-top cut, visible Air cushioning unit in the heel, the now iconic elephant print, the Jumpman logo on the tongue, and a more padded collar and tongue.
Who is the designer of the Air Jordan 3?
The Air Jordan 3 was designed by Tinker Hatfield. Hatfield was tasked with designing a new Jordan silhouette, following the departure of Bruce Kilgore and Peter B. Moore, who were responsible for the designs of the Air Jordan 1 and 2. Hatfield is credited with saving the Air Jordan brand, as MJ was considering leaving Nike before the revolutionary design of the AJ3 convinced him to stay.
What was the first colorway of the Air Jordan 3?
The Air Jordan 3 was introduced in 1988 in the colorways 'White Cement', 'Black Cement', 'Fire Red' and 'True Blue'. All four colorways came with the well-known 'Elephant' print.
What is the rarest Air Jordan 3 release?
The Air Jordan 3 from the 'Kobe' pack is one of the rarest releases of the silhouette. The sneaker was released together with an Air Jordan 8 in 2016 as a 'friends and family' release.
How do Air Jordan 3 fit?
Generally the Air Jordan 3 fits true to size, but if you have wide feet you might considering sizing up half a size, as the model is designed with extra padding in the collars and so can be a little snug.
How do you clean Air Jordan 3?
An Air Jordan 3 is best cleaned by hand. For the best results, use one of the following combinations:
- 1 tablespoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide, 1 teaspoon water (for white leather)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon water (for white leather)
- 2 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 teaspoon water (for all leather)
- 2 drops mild detergent/dish soap/sneaker cleaner, 1 cup/240ml warm water (for leather, patent leather, mesh and other fabrics)
Mix and apply to the sneaker with a toothbrush, and gently scrub. Wipe it off with a damp cloth and allow to air dry.
The Elephant Print is delicate, so avoid using too much water on the material. Instead, use a suede/nubuck eraser or damp microfibre cloth to clean stains.
For a smelly sneaker, you can sprinkle baking soda inside the shoe, then leave overnight. The powder will absorb moisture and neutralise the smell. Shake out the excess before wearing again. Alternatively, you can use silica gel or activated charcoal bags for the same results.
Laces can be cleaned with the same solutions and rinsed afterwards, or you can put white laces in a 1:5 bleach and water solution for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
In addition, we do not recommend putting your shoes in the washing machine. Sneakers made of leather and suede can come out damaged. With shoes made of canvas or cotton, the risk is less, but the chance of damaged sneakers remains. So we recommend always washing your sneakers by hand. If you do put them in the washing machine, then place the shoes in an old pillowcase beforehand.
How can I tell if an Air Jordan 3 is fake?
You don't recognise fake Air Jordans by one fixed indicator. In fact, it is a combination of indicators that vary from pair to pair. However, you can use these indicators to virtually determine whether a pair of AJ3s are genuine:
- Logo – the ‘Jumpman’ on the tongue shouldn’t have poor stitching, weird proportions, or any other strange details.
- Elephant Print – The pattern should be consistent and have fine detailing. Fakes may feature the pattern too high or low on the toe box.
- Heel – the logo should be properly centred.
- Sole – check the sole for its distinct tread pattern. Fakes can have a less defined tread, or be poorly moulded. The Air unit should be clear, and properly placed.
- Interior – check the inside tag has the correct fonts, date codes, and spacing. The print should be clean. Fakes can feature blurry, bold, or oversized text.
- Stitching – the stitching should be tight and even, with no loose threads, messy or inconsistent stitching.
- Material – AJ3s use premium leather, and the upper should feel soft but firm. Fakes may feel plastic, stiff, or strangely smooth or shiny.
- Packaging – the box should be high-quality and sturdy, not flimsy or damaged. Check the style code matches an official listing.
Where can I buy Air Jordan 3s?
Do you have your eye on this model? With our sneaker search engine, you can browse the Air Jordan 3 at different retailers and at different prices. Our release calendar also keeps you up to date on AJ3 restocks and new releases!
Influential Air Jordan 3 Colorways
Air Jordan 3 'Free Throw Line' | 923096-101
MJ’s famous free throw line dunk finished Dominique Wilkins off with a perfect score of 50, and would inspire the Jordan 3 ‘Free Throw Line’, released on the 30th anniversary of the model in 2018.
Along with the ‘White/Cement’ upper, it featured a translucent sole with a red stripe under the left foot as a nod to the take off point for Jordan’s dunk, and also the time “3:51” on the back of the pull tabs to represent the time the dunk took place. His winning score of “147” would also feature on the inside of the tongue.
Air Jordan 3 ‘Kobe Bryant PE’ | 869802-907
One of the most impactful (and expensive) pair of Jordan 3s is the ‘Kobe PE’. When Kobe was a sneaker free agent for the 2002-2003 season, he dabbled with the Air Force 1 Mid, the AND1 Desire Mid, Reebok Questions, even an Air Flight Huarache.
However, there was one that caught everyone’s eye, and that was the Jordan 3 PE. Although mainly white, there were the subtle hints of the Lakers yellow and purple, making this a classic sneaker that would see the OG sell at auction for over $30,000.
Air Jordan 3 ‘Do The Right Thing’ | 315297-471
A poignant release came in 2007 when Spike Lee and Jordan Brand came together and created the “Do The Right Thing” Jordan 3; the Brisk Blue sneaker inspired by the movie poster of the 1989 classic.
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