What Makes the Jordan 1s so Iconic? A Look at Classic Design and Basketball Heritage
By Khrukreihrii A.
Embedded Files
After tying up the laces, I stood up and took a few steps. I looked in the mirror. I noticed the vibrant combination of the bright red with the black on my feet. It looked.…..bright, but I knew it would grow on me.
I turned to my dad and said, 'I really like these. I think I'll take them.'
“We will take these,” my dad said to the salesman.
A surge of excitement rushed through me as I realized that I was about to own a pair of Air Jordans 1.
Rise of the Jordan 1
An uprising but unproven Michael Jordan was the perfect basketball athlete for Nike to sponsor in 1984. The Air Jordan 1 was the first shoe to be worn by Michael Jordan after signing a five year, 2.5 million dollar deal with Nike.
It was a shoe that was revolutionary. Designed by Peter Moore, the shoe provided stability, good cushioning and heel support. Most importantly, it was bold and stylish, just like Jordan and his skills on the court.
However, during that time in 1984, NBA regulations mandated that basketball sneakers should be either black or white. Usually, the sneakers were white with the accent color of the team. But the Jordan 1 BREDs were created with the Chicago Bulls colour scheme in mind - black, red and white.
For every game Jordan wore the Jordan 1 on the court, he received a $5,000 fine. Nike was more than happy to pay the fine, and seized the chance for a striking advertising opportunity.
The Striking Advertising Opportunity
‘On September 15, Nike created a revolutionary new basketball shoe. On October 18, the NBA threw them out of the game. Fortunately, the NBA can’t stop you from wearing them.’
That is what the voiceover said for a Nike commercial featuring a young Jordan bouncing a basketball.
In 1985, when the first Jordan shoe was released in stores, the hype for these shoes was so much that stores used to sell out in the first few hours of the store opening. The Air Jordan 1s were designed not only for basketball players and fans, but also for people who didn’t have an interest in the sport.
Due to the immense popularity of the Jordan 1, Nike began releasing new models each season, with the Air Jordan 4 being another highly sought-after iteration These shoes are still very popular to this day, and Nike releases new colour ways every year.
How has the Jordan 1s gained a wider customer base?
The Air Jordans started the sneaker culture, and the shoe has influenced fashion trends around the world. What made this shoe even more impacting was the legend that the shoes were based on, Michael Jordan.
Jordan was a mean machine. On court, he made people believe that he could fly, with some of his famous and impressive dunks. He was also an amazing defensive player.
Jordan 1s have become an icon in pop culture. Nike began producing sizes for toddlers and offering women's sizes, ensuring that people of all ages and genders could enjoy the iconic shoe.
And it doesn’t stop there.
In recent years, Nike has also released the Air Jordan 1 Hi Flyease, which refers to individuals with disabilities or those who have difficulty putting on regular shoes, further promoting inclusivity.
Conclusion
A new movie available on Prime Video, ‘Air’, is a movie on the making of the Air Jordan 1s and stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Chris Tucker.
The movie Air is based on the true story of Sonny Vaccaro, an American sports marketing executive, and his efforts to get Nike back on track, his connection in the NBA world, his heated discussions with Phil Knight to bet on a rookie like Michael Jordan to become the face of Nike.
The Air Jordan brand continues to expand its fanbase and continues to produce sneakers of outstanding quality and style.
As I walked back home with my new Air Jordan 1s on my feet, I looked at them. The red really was bright.
But it looked cool.
Page updated
Report abuse