Authentic Jordans

Basketball great Michael Jordan's partnership with the Nike Shoe Corporation has been one of the most successful athlete-corporate partnerships in the history of sport. Jordan inked his deal in 1984, and Nike quickly released the first Air Jordan series a year later. Fashion maven Peter Moore wanted consumers to mix and match based on style sensibilities, so he and Nike created 23 separate color combinations. The NBA initially banned Air Jordans. This move, however, only netted the shoe more popularity with the general public.Since the initial successful run of Air Jordans, Nike has reissued the shoe over 21 times. You can find original shoes, retro kicks, and retail samples that never made it to mass production. The second run was crafted by another top designer named Bruce Kilgore, who capitalized on Michael Jordan's monumental national fame at the time.Artistic moguls 50 Cent and Spike Lee have both prominently featured Air Jordans in their movies. In 2005, Nike responded to customer complaints about the action of AJ heels on the Achilles tendon by issuing a major redesign. Even though Michael Jordan has by and large disappeared from the professional basketball scene, his legacy continues to stoke sales of authentic Jordans.Given the tremendous popularity of the brand, it is unsurprising that knock-off versions exist. Authentic Jordans contain superior stitching, official emblems, and better integrated materials. At first blush (e.g. upon observing a photograph), a knock-off shoe may resemble an authentic AJ. If you are purchasing a resale item, ask to see specs and documentation.