It’s not just sneaker enthusiasts who examine the nuances and details of Air Jordan sneakers; anyone who takes a close look can see and appreciate the hidden lore and iconography that connect the sneakers to athletic achievements and great design. The shoes are more than just athletic gear; they’re the default canvases for an athlete’s narrative. Nike has worked hard to make every detail of each shoe unique for each model. The Air Jordan 14, for example, was designed with not just Michael Jordan’s stature but also his Ferrari in mind. But not all insights into the shoes are obvious. Sneak peeks into the Air Jordans can reveal something new to even the most diehard devotees.
Hidden Details On The Air Jordan 6
At first glance, what you might see is just a snazzy upper. But throw on a pair with contrasting overlays like the Carmines, and voila—a design that stretches across the entire upper with an intricate “2” and “3” woven into it. No, that’s not arbitrary; it’s a discreet nod to MJ’s iconic jersey number. I bet that’s one hidden detail on the Air Jordan 6 sneakers you’ve never noticed.
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The Air Jordan 1’s Wings Logo
Peter Moore, designer of the Air Jordan 1 and also the famous three-stripe Adidas logo, sketched the Wings logo on a napkin—fitting, because the design is all about taking flight. The Air Jordan 1 is actually about flight in more ways than one. Moore used something not usually associated with flight as his design inspiration: the pin flight attendants wear to let everyone know they work in the air. The use of that image as a visual language for the sneaker was in part why the Air Jordan 1 became a style superstar.
Hidden Details On The Air Jordan 7
You’ve undoubtedly spotted the shield logo gracing the heel of the Air Jordan 7. But did you ever decipher the esoteric ‘7’ intricately folded into the design? Clever, right?
Air Jordan 16 Secret
The Air Jordan 16 has a veil, which isn’t just a stylistic touch but a cover for an inclusive secret. It has the word “Jordan” spelled out in dashes and lines. And if you turn it over, it has the word “Jordan” spelled out vertically in Braille.
Air Jordan 11 Tongue Writing
The embroidered strip on the tongue is a visual enigma, seeming to be a nondirectional jumble of random hieroglyphics. But tilt the sneaker 90 degrees and view it from the side, and it clearly shouts “JUMPMAN JORDAN.” The millennial release of the Space Jams takes that covertness a step further with a tag that reads “JUMPMAN JAM.”
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Air Jordan XX1 Cryptic Text
In the fight against counterfeit products, the Air Jordan XX1 took things to a whole new level. When you expose them to ultraviolet light, secret letters appear, spelling out “AUTHENTIC” when arranged just so. It’s a sneakerhead version of the Da Vinci Code.
Air Jordan XX3 Fingerprint Sole
If you have walked in the Air Jordan XX3, you have quite literally stepped into MJ’s skin. The outsole pattern isn’t random; it’s an adapted scan of His Airness’s own fingerprint.
Air Jordan 5 TwentyThirteen Text
Let us shift our attention to the 2013 version of the Air Jordan 5. If you see an embossed “TWENTYTHIRTEEN” on the inside, you can be sure that you are wearing the real thing. Don’t spot this covert imprint? That’s your first clue that what you’re looking at is not the genuine article.
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Hidden Details On Air Jordan 15 Red Strip
The numerical orderings on the Air Jordan 15’s red strip pay tribute to MJ’s life and career. There are numbers for his birthday (2.7), his jersey number (23), the number of championship rings he’s won (6), and, well, the number of the shoe model (15). Even the shoe’s tongue mimics MJ’s iconic tongue-wag on the hardwood.
Air Jordan 18 Car Clutch
Jordan’s intense passion for cars seeps into the very DNA of the shoe itself. Take, for instance, the wrap-around heel, so reminiscent of the classic driving loafer that you’d almost be tempted to slip it on and slide behind the wheel of any Italian roadster. Like the simply designed driving loafers of yore, the Air Jordan XX3’s heel has some pretty sweet looks going for it. But, as with every other design element associated with this model, there’s a lot more to it than that.
Air Jordan 12 Secret
Do not underestimate the AJ12’s carbon fiber shank. This lightweight stabilization element, almost invisible to the eye, is showcased through six “windows” on each sole—12 in total, yet another nod to the model number.
Air Jordan 17 CD
Turning to the art world, musician Mike Phillips had his saxophone on the Air Jordan 17’s shroud, which coincided with his song “The Greatest” on the CD-ROM that came with the shoe.
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Air Jordan 20 Details
MJ’s flirtation with motorcycle racing? Seen in the chrome heel cups of the Air Jordan XX, which change color like a bike’s exhaust and are numbered six to commemorate his championships.
Air Jordan 4 Numeral 17
The “Pure $” Jordan 4s don’t hum their nickname; they practically shout it, embroidered at the heel tab. Beneath the protective membrane of the Air Jordan’s chrome heels, the letter “N” expertly makes up the numeral “17,” a winking nod to the model number.
Hidden Details Air Jordan 3 & 4
The “Tour Yellow” Air Jordan 4 hides a Velcro patch under its tongue, revealing “JORDAN RARE AIR” upon removal.
Hidden Details of the Air Jordan 2009
The Air Jordan 2009, which appears to be an unremarkable shoe, offers a zen-like quality. The heel has two rows of stitching, while the forefoot has three, making it as meditative as it is mysterious.
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Each Air Jordan model is more than a piece of athletic gear—it is an anthology, with every installment packed full of details (some not so well-hidden) that add to, and sometimes even embellish, the life and legend of Michael Jordan. You could say that each and every Air Jordan is a kind of autobiographical work, straight from the pen of His Airness, with some coauthors, like Nike founder Phil Knight, along for the ride.
Are there any other cool hidden details on Air Jordan sneakers that we missed?
