Black Friday isn't a huge thing in the Philippines, but Air Jordan collectors around the world are looking to celebrate. Last given the retro treatment in 2007, the "Aqua" Air Jordan 8 returns to retail with a fully remastered look. With this drop serving as the start for another crazy holiday season in the world of sneakers, better hold on to that 13th month pay, you're gonna need it.
The "Aqua" 8s drop on November 27. Keep tabs on your preferred Jordan Brand retailers for release info.
Just like a fine wine, the Air Jordan 7 "Bordeaux" gets better with age. Following an initial re-release back in 2011, the 2015 version of the sneakers Michael Jordan wore in the 1992 NBA All-Star Game are as close to the originals as the originals themselves. With the retro Jordan market not expected to slow down any time soon, expect these won't last long on shelves when they drop this weekend. If you're thinking of copping, check out Titan and other select Jordan Brand retailers.
To say 2014 was another good year for sneakers is a huge understatement. Jordan Brand brought back the Air Jordan 6 to huge fanfare. The FIFA World Cup was the stage for the introduction of new football shoe technology that slowly found life off the pitch. Nike in general had another good year, but Adidas surprised many with a number of strong releases and hirings that gives the German footwear giants good momentum to challenge The Swoosh for sneaker supremacy in 2015.
Talking about the sneaker highlights and best releases of 2014 is a pretty expansive topic of conversation all on its own. And with the remaining releases of the year pretty laid out, it's time to look forward to some shoes that are looking poised to hit it big in 2015.
With December less than a full month away, sneakerheads have learned to love and dread the onset of Christmas because of the amount of highly anticipated sneakers that will drop over the holiday. It's been a Jordan Brand tradition for a while now to release a crazy amount of Christmastime heat, and this year will be no different. So to help you plan you holiday shopping, I've compiled a list of the Air Jordans I feel are worth the time and effort copping over the holidays. Better start saving. And don't forget to get your loved ones some gifts, too.
The classic Air Jordan 3 returns to retailers this week in a clean colorway. Dubbed the "Wolf Grey" editions for the use of the said hue as the shoe's base color, these shoes sport a mix of leather, nubuck, and the timeless elephant print the Air Jordan 3 is known for. Accents of black, metallic silver accents, and a translucent outsole give the shoe just a bit of extra pop. The "Wolf Grey" 3 will be sold in a full family size run from men's all the way down to toddler.
The release date is set for this Saturday, July 19. Hopefully local Jordan Brand accounts will be carrying these in stock.
And I for one couldn't be any happier. The quality of retro Air Jordans has been a common conversation topic among sneakerheads in recent years. Most collectors agree that details such as the materials and shapes used on the re-releases of classic Jordan signatures don't exactly match up with the originals. That doesn't stop them from flying off shelves on Saturdays, but it's a definite concern given the high price Air Jordan retros command these days.
In a SoleCollector interview with Dave Shechter (VP of Jordan Footwear) and Jeff Atienza (Jordan Brand Product Line Manager), it was revealed that "remastered" versions of Air Jordan retros will be available come Spring 2015. In a nutshell, this means that all forthcoming Jordans will be made with better materials and built as faithful to the original construction methods as humanly possible. While there's nothing wrong with better quality products entering the market, consumers will have to brace for a few unwanted effects.
1. Price
This one was pretty obvious, as the current retail value of a single pair of Air Jordans isn't cheap. With the added costs of new materials, prices are looking to increase anywhere from 10-15%.
2. Availability
Initially, only shoes in men's sizes will get the "remastered" treatment come next year. Not cool for most of the junior and lady sneakerheads out there.
As a collector, I appreciate the approach Jordan brand has taken to address the demand for better quality retros. They may get a little pricier, but the promise of better craftsmanship wins out for me in the long run. While sneakerheads have already taken their outrage to the online message boards, I think it's a lesson in disguise for teaching many within the culture to favor quality over quantity. Spending a little more for one pair of good shoes seems inconsequential compared to buying multiples of the same pair albeit made with inferior quality. But just how good the quality will be remains to be seen next year.
Check out more pictures of the first round of "Remastered" Air Jordan retros after the jump.
The Air Jordan 2 may be one of the more underrated models in Michael Jordan's sneaker line, but its simplistic design has steadily endured throughout the years. And in a few months time, another original colorway of MJ's second sneaker will be making its way back to retail.
When news broke out earlier this year about Nike SB hooking up with Jordan Brand for some sneakers, the skate geezer in me rejoiced because this official collaboration was a long time coming. When you look at skateboarding, the uneducated opinion is quick to associate it with rebellious attitudes that serve no place in "proper" society. But most of those people have never stepped on a board in their life. With skateboarding comes creativity, quick thinking, and a masterful sense of repurposing things. To a skateboarder, the functions of stairs, rails, and roads are challenged, creating new venues for breathtaking performance art.
Now if that sounds too high-brow, all it really means is that this collaboration was the result of that mindset to find new uses for old things. And if you didn't know, the Air Jordan 1 enjoyed the distinction of being an unofficial skate shoe among skaters of decades past due to their superior cushioning and durable leather construction. Among those leading the charge during the 80's was skate legend Lance Mountain. He would intentionally rock mismatched Jays in some attempt to preserve the life of his shoes. Old photos would show him rocking a Carolina Blue AJ1 on one foot, while a Royal AJ1 adorned the other. So it all makes sense to see the mismatched look come full circle on his designs for the collaboration.
Upon first glance, you see predominantly black or white uppers with hints of red and royal blue. You get the idea of the mismatch, but the real kicker is that the black and white are actually painted on. And through continuous wear and actually skating in the shoes, the painted areas will give way to a couple of classic Air Jordan 1 colorways. It's a move that's reminiscent of how Maison Martin Margiela worked on the Chuck Taylor, because it ensures that no two pairs will be exactly alike. And the choice of colorways will certainly take the hype level up a couple of notches for sure. To finish them off, a special "Paint Shoes Not Walls" graphic by Lance Mountain can be found on the insoles.
Whether you like them to start off in black or white, Lance Mountain's Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 designs will be released in limited quantities at select Nike SB retailers and on Nike.com on June 7.
WeLegendary brought out Craig Stecyk's designs, so here's to hoping they bring out Lance Mountains as well! Check back often for any updates leading up to the release!
With the unveiling of the Air Jordan XX9 just days away, the folks at Jordan Brand have released a teaser video starring Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. While the video may not have given us a good idea of how the shoe is going to look, the name and concept of the video alone sheds a solid amount of light on one the shoe's upcoming themes.
Michael Jordan's basketball days may be long behind him, but that hasn't kept his eponymous brand from continuing his signature shoe line. Sure, the retros get majority of the attention, but thanks to a their nifty Flight Plate technology, both the Jordan XX8 and the XX8 SE managed to put the Jumpman back in the forefront of on-court performance shoes.
Less than two weeks from now, we'll get a look at the all-new Air Jordan XX9. How they managed to keep last year's release under wraps is beyond me, and it looks like this year's drop will be the same. Will number 29 continue with the Flight Plate technology? Will it cost in the same range as last year's model? What will it look like? All these questions will be answered on April 17, 2014.
Every sneakerhead will always have a pair (or more) that's managed to elude their collection. Some people actively seek them out, while folks like me choose to wallow in regret, hoping for miracle to come in the form of a re-release. Out of all the kicks I've wanted to cop over the years, there's only one pair that I've been hating myself for not picking up despite having a golden opportunity to get them. So if you're interested, now's the time for a little story.
The year was 2008, and I was in my junior year in college. Me and my buddy Justin had stumbled on this sporting goods store near Eastwood that sold branded shoes and apparel at marked down prices. Back then, sneaker collecting hadn't evolved into the monster it is today, so it was still pretty commonplace to see boxes of premium release Nikes and Air Jordans stacked up in stores like those. After walking around to check the selection, I ended up trying to decide between two Air Jordan retros - "Green Bean" 5s and Aqua 8s.
At the time, all I wanted sneakers that were really loud, so the 5s and their all-3M build fit the bill more than the Aquas did. So I ended up getting them, and prided myself on how I was able to pick them up for way under retail. But in the days after my purchase, I couldn't stop thinking about the Aquas and their ugly-beautiful appearance. After some time when I had saved up money to get them, they were all gone and I haven't found them ever since. I also ended up selling the Green Bean 5s to my cousin (also named Justin) after only wearing them once.
The easy moral of the story here would be to never squander a golden opportunity to pick up some shoes. But in truth, I think the real lesson to be learned here is that tastes change, so when you're looking to pick up some shoes, think long term. Can you see yourself wearing them long after the hype for a certain shoe or style disappears? Then by all means, go and pick them up.
Anybody out there with a story to share on a pair they missed out on and regret everyday? Let me know. I'll just be here, waiting on the Aqua 8s to re-release.
Last weekend, Jordan brand kicked off the 23rd year of the Air Jordan 6 by dropping two colorways of the celebrated high-top. The first was the Infrared 23, which keeps with the dominantly red makeup we've come to see from the "Raging Bull" 5s and the "Toro Bravo" 4s. The second one was the White/Infrared Air Jordan 6, which was the first colorway to release when the shoe originally made its debut in 1991.
Really digging the box.
The 6 is revered in the Air Jordan line because it was the shoe that MJ was rocking when he won his first NBA, capping off a year where he also won the scoring title and the league MVP award. Now I was a year old in 1991 so it's safe to say I was pretty oblivious to all this history as it unfolded. But thanks to this year's release, I've got myself a tangible link to the start of one of basketball's bygone eras.
Upon first glance, I immediately had to compare it the original release. In terms of shape, the 2014 release is as close to the OG as it can possibly be. The shoe's defining elements have been faithfully recreated - visible air soles, the Porsche-inspired heel tab, and the two-holed rubber tongue that's been ripped off by a lot of other sneakers ever since.
The only point of contention most sneakerheads have with this year's release is the infrared color of the midsole. A lot of internet chatter bemoans it for being a little too pink. However, if you compare the 2014 model to both the 2010 retro and the 1991 original, you'll find that the infrared of this year's release comes closer to the OG's color than the last retro did, and I think it looks all the better for it. So you might want to think twice about calling it "Infrapink".
Overall, I think the sneaker is a solid first salvo in a year that's gonna be peppered with hot 6s. I'm sure heads are already chomping at the bit to pick up the Carmines in May, as well as the Black/Infrared version that's a favorite of Kanye West. Congrats to everyone who scored a pair on release day! But if you're looking to pick up a pair, I suggest going up a half a size than what you normally wear. Happy hunting!
I was surprised seeing this pop up on sneaker blogs I routinely check on my morning net troll. Named the Jordan Future, this shoe certainly looks to take both literal and figurative steps in a new direction for Jordan Brand's lifestyle offerings.
On-Court Components, Off-Court Style.
Not counting the retros, Jordan models designed for off-court use have been generally underwhelming in recent times. Now while this isn't an entirely new shoe, I'm definitely interested to see where the folks at JB take this concept. I say this because most sneakerheads will easily point out the use of the iconic Air Jordan 11's underpinnings. And resting on top of those components is a woven upper that employs off-center lacing, very reminiscent of Nike's Inneva and Footscape models. The craftsmanship alone is something that warrants a closer look. And with 3M threads mixed into the weave, the Jordan Future has all the makings to be a subtle head turner.
The colorway shown in the pictures isn't anything memorable, but should a "Bred" makeup surface, I'm sure that's bound to get a few more tongues wagging and a lot more folks eager to cop this simple play on the past and future of Jordan Brand.
Love or hate what they've done to the sneaker game, you can't deny the mass appeal that retro Jordans have. And given what's been going around the net, the popularity of the Air Jordan line will only continue to grow in 2014.
Early next year marks the return of the Air Jordan 6. It's a favorite among many collectors as it was the shoe MJ won his first NBA championship in. And with 2014 being its 23rd anniversary, we can expect a good amount of classic and original colorways to release. I don't mess with every pair of Jays that come out, but #6 is one I've been eyeing for a while. Its design cues have directly influenced a good amount of modern sneakers (see Supra Skytop 2). And what's not to love about a shoe that both Kanye West and Hanamichi Sakuragi rocked, right?
Image from http://bit.ly/1fUZiL9
While retro Jordan colorways are always welcomed by sneakerheads, new ones are pretty hit and miss. There was certainly a lot of hype last year for shoes like the Green Glow 4s and Gamma Blue 11s, but so far, what's been shown online has been pretty underwhelming. Take the black cement colorway for the Air Jordan 3 shown above which shows hints of sport blue. The change-up is something I find totally unnecessary given how strong the original black cements are. There's also an all-red Air Jordan 6, which feels like a Nike copout given the state of Limbo the Red October Yeezy 2s are in.
The only new colorway I'd wear so far are these Air Jordan 9s with a colorway inspired by the Birmingham Barons, just because they're a clean look.
And while we're at it, we all know that Black Friday and the Christmas season is a time for serious Jordan heat to drop. This year saw the return of the Taxis 12s and Bred 1s in their OG form alongside strong new colorways like the Oreo 5s. While nothing's set for the 2014 holiday season, all I want to see released come Christmas season are the Columbia 11s! I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting on those to return.
And on that note, a Bred 12 in its original makeup would make both me and my girlfriend Dylan very very happy. Jordan Brand hear me out and make it a Black Friday release or something!
What Jays would you like to see drop in 2014? Are you looking to cop any of the 6s like I am? Let me know!
The holiday season is always a cause for celebration for most people. But for sneakerheads, it's a vacuum of Christmas bonuses and time that should have been spent with their loved ones. I don't know who got the bright idea to get sneaker brands to release so much heat over the course of December, but it's been working, as seen by the hundreds of people who line up at sneaker stores over the world.
Image from http://bit.ly/1fbftUh
I for one do not intend to join the Christmas sneaker rush because primarily because I fear for my life, and Christmas shopping for gifts is a different kind of spectacle on its own. I will acknowledge though that out of everything that's dropping this month, all I want are the Air Jordan "Taxi" 12s.
Image from http://bit.ly/1fphcpA
Jordan heads will rejoice at the return of this classic colorway, last seen packaged with the Bred 11s in 2008. The 12 is one of my favorite Jordans because me and my dad had pairs a few years back. Magnificent color blocking, the mix of leathers, and the gold eyelets really make the "Taxis" a subtle head turner. I can only hope the quality of these is at least close to the originals!
Look for these to be available at Titan and other Nike shops tomorrow for P8195. And for anyone looking to cop the other Jordans releasing this month, may the force be with you.
After what's been months of teased samples, Jordan Brand is finally releasing the "Oreo" Air Jordan 5, on Black Friday, no less. A quick Google of both "Black Friday" and "sneakers" will yield you a whole lot of results that point out to this "holiday" being a pretty big deal over in Americuhh. It's also where a lot of people get hurt over some shoes. So, here's to hoping that doesn't start happening over in these shores.
I'm not the biggest fan of the Air Jordan 5, but this monochromatic look is straight up dope. The contrasted inner lining and the speckled "shark's teeth" details really set off the shoe better than a loud colorway ever could. Pretty neat exercise in restraint, if you ask me.
So if you're looking to get in on the Black Friday action, try your luck at all Titan 22 shops, and their webstore if there isn't one near you.
Retail is at P8195, so better act fast before you have to deal with resellers!
It might just be the history nerd in me talking, but the art of storytelling is one of my favorite things about collecting sneakers. It's amazing to me how people can get a look into significant events in the lives of the athletes we follow by checking out a simple mix of colors on shoes. I don't how much it means to everyone else, but it's definitely a big factor for me when it comes to making a shoe purchase.
The Jordan "Formidable Foes" Pack is built on storytelling. It's a series of Air Jordan 1's done up in the colorways of some of the greatest teams to ever challenge the GOAT on the hardwood. So far, we've seen the release pairs paying tribute to the Boston Celtics, Seattle Supersonics, and the Phoenix Suns. I'm waiting on The Orlando Magic pair to release, but I couldn't pass up a chance to pick these bad boys up.
Now while the "OG" tag may be questionable, there's no questioning the story behind these shoes. The "Highlight Reel" Air Jordan 1s are a fitting nod to what I think is still the greatest Slam Dunk Contest rivalry in NBA History - Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins.
I wasn't around to see their All-Star Weekend batles, but I certainly think the AJ1 serves as a great canvas to bring people back to the Slam Dunk Contest of 1988 (which I think Dominique would have won if it wasn't held in Chicago). The ever-popular Black/Red combo gets a nice punch of yellow on the swoosh, sole, and inner lining - nicely mixing the colorways of both the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks. However, the real detail that sets these apart from the other members of Formidable Foes pack is the tonal film strip graphic that covers the toe box and side panels of the shoe - nicely referencing Dominique Wilkins' "Human Highlight Film" nickname.
Execution wise, I really like how the entire shoe was done. The film strips aren't too obnoxious and only really get noticed once you get past the striking colorway. And for purists, the "Nike Air" tab on the tongue is always nice to have. It's like owning a crazy pair of customs.
Pick up a pair at Titan 22! And for folks like me who never got to see a Golden Moment in the history of Basketball live (at least on their TV screens), check out this refresher below.
Kevin Durant's Nike KD VI's have dropped, and the Lebron XI's aren't too far behind. This leaves Kobe Bryant's signature sneaker line the only one that's yet to get an update for the coming NBA season.
Supposed sample designs, and teasers that imply the use of Nike's Flyknit technology have been making the online rounds. Hopefully, more details come out before Kobe gets back on the court (the season opener, without a doubt. Haha). All personal bias aside, I'm curious to see how the final product will turn out. Will it continue down the design road the Nike Kobe IV start and stick to a low-cut profile? Or will his injury warrant a return to a higher cut shoe?
Only time will tell. In the meantime, since I'm talking about Kobe anyway, I'm gonna go on little throwback trip to revisit some of my favorite sneakers of his.
Nike Kobe VII System - "Poison Dart Frog" (image from http://bit.ly/1eIUNB4)
Although one of the later shoes in Kobe's Nike line, I've always found them pretty awesome in concept. Low-cut, light, and taking design cues from the poison/venom themes we've been seeing in his sneakers as of late. I wish I had gotten back into playing basketball earlier, so I could have picked up a pair to ball in.
Nike Kobe V - "Game of Death" (image from http://bit.ly/16P43Tq)
Nike took some serious inspiration from Bruce Lee in his classic movie "Game of Death" for this release. I love Bruce Lee movies, so I went nuts when I heard Nike was dropping these. The scratch mark details, to taking the colorway from the tracksuit Lee wore in the movie. I can only hope and pray Nike decides to re-release these in the not-so-distant future.
Nike Kobe VIII System - "Mambacurial" (image from http://bit.ly/1cMOOyy)
These aren't old, but it took a while for this to happen. Kobe took inspiration from football shoes which brought about the Kobe IV, a design that changed the course of Kobe's signature line. Four more shoe designs in, the Kobe VIII came out with this sick colorway that took so many cues from the Nike Mercurial line, the same shoes worn by footballers like Real Madrid winger (and diver extraordinaire) Cristiano Ronaldo. But don't let the Ronaldo association bring these down. They even inspired a custom KD VI which is equally sick! This is another release I can only hope Nike re-releases in the future.
Nike Huarache 2K4 (image from http://bit.ly/19sjmW5)
While these aren't necessarily a Kobe Bryant signature sneaker, I remember Kobe rocking these after his time with Adidas. I took these as a sign that The Black Mamba would soon be going the way of the Swoosh. And true enough, 8 signature shoes later, and a couple of championship rings to add to his collection, I'd say the move has paid off. And speaking of Adidas...
Adidas Kobe II (Image from http://bit.ly/)
Feel free to laugh, and drop whatever comparisons to The Titanic, or an iron. But I included these on the list because I had a pair when I was younger, and I balled in them until they gave out. I'd practice the turnaround-fadeaway and even though I wouldn't come close to hitting the rim, I'd still feel pretty good cause I was in a pair of Kobes. I think it's fortunate that many of the younger crop of sneakerheads today didn't get to see Kobe in these, and I'm glad Kobe's off Adidas so no one's gets any smart ideas to call for a re-release.
Air Jordan III - "True Blue" (image from http://bit.ly/14KidVg)
I was leafing through an old issue of Slam Magazine one day when I came across Kobe Bryant in this pair of Air Jordan III's. With so much hype surrounding Air Jordans nowadays, I'm not too sure if I'd want to join in on the race. But Kobe Bryant was in a pair of True Blue 3's throwing down a dunk on Yao Ming in what was then his rookie season, so I might make an exception if these roll out again.
And while we're on the subject of Kobe and Jordan, to sign off on this post, this painstakingly OC edit is worth a watch.
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