Jordan 3s

In every brand’s history, there’s a model, design, or release that defines the brand itself and makes it big. Air Jordan 3 is what really started the Air Jordan line.

Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the world-famous sneaker designer, it was the happy medium between high-top and low-top versions. They provided greater flexibility than the high-tops and more stability than their low-top Air Jordan siblings. In other words, Air Jordan 3 came as a balance between the two different strengths provided by Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 2.

Wearing the Air Jordan 3, Michael Jordan came out of the 1987-88 NBA season with several awards.

NBA All-Star
NBA All-Star Game MVP

NBA Slam-Dunk Contest Title
NBA Steal Champion

NBA Scoring Champion
NBA Defensive Player of the Year

NBA Most Valuable Player

In other words, Air Jordan 3 was what let Jordan jump like an acrobat and pluck almost every award for the season. But it’s not just Jordan and half a dozen awards he won that gave the Air Jordan 3 a unique, exotic touch.

Air Jordan 3 had a toe-cap, eyestay, and heel-accent with elephant print, which made it more exotic than its predecessors.

But, it looked more than exotic. It was on Air Jordan 3 that that the series introduced the famous Jumpman logo. For the first time, the Nike Air Unit became prominent on the shoes.

Maybe it’s for all these reasons that the Jordan 3’s influence goes beyond the Air Jordan line. Over the decades following its release, it has influenced the design and aesthetics of countless shoes by so many other brands.

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