Air Jordan 3
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Introducing the Air Jordan 3
In 1987, Jordan's contract with Nike was about to expire, and Nike knew they needed to do something big to retain him. Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Jordan 3 in order to save the day. This silhouette set a new standard for Nike and Michael Jordan's sneakers and is one of the most popular Air Jordan models of all time.
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Did you know?
As Michael Jordan told Hatfield what he wanted in a sneaker, Hatfield listened intently; something that wasn't as high as what everyone else was wearing, something comfortable and rideable out of the box, and something that had a sophisticated look.
There was an elephant skin-like print on the upper, a visible Air Unit in the heel, and a medium height on the prototype presented to Jordan. The Jumpman logo on the tongue was another important new feature. In the absence of Nike's famous Swoosh, the Air Jordan 3 gave Jordan the chance to make a statement. It is not surprising that Jordan extended his Nike contract.
Popular AJ3 Colorways
Fire Red
The 'Fire Red' colorway recently made a comeback. It was first released in 1988. The red colour is distinctive to the shoe and is seen across the silhouette, as is the iconic 'Elephant' print.
Dark Iris
This colorway was released in 2022, with the original Fire Red replaced by a beautiful purple. The signature elephant print can be seen around the toebox and heel. The Nike Air logo on the back of the colorway has been replaced by a Jumpman with the text Air underneath.
Desert Elephant
The Air Jordan 3 'Desert Elephant' has given a unique twist to the iconic 'Black Cement' colorway. The upper is mainly covered in black leather. The brown mudguards at the nose and heel look like the skin of an aged elephant.
Iconic colorways
As early as November 1987, Jordan wore the 'White Cement' colorway sporadically, but most fans remember him wearing the Air Jordan 3 during the 1988 NBA All-Star game for the first time. With numerous re-releases over the years, the 'White Cement' and the 'Black Cement' Air Jordan 3s remain the most popular colorways.
