It has been three decades since Nike and Michael Jordan came together to form a partnership that revolutionized the sneaker industry for the better. Some of the most influential athletes and celebrities in history have worn Air Jordan shoes, which have become a staple in pop culture. However, Air Jordan shoes weren't always so popular. This article explores the evolution of Air Jordan shoes, which are an icon today.

Air Jordans were born

As a rookie basketball player from the University of North Carolina, Michael Jordan was signed by Nike in 1984. Nike saw the opportunity for Jordan to launch a signature shoe line after he had just signed with the Chicago Bulls. Nike introduced Air Jordan in 1985, which was designed by Peter Moore and featured innovative Air cushioning technology. However, the NBA banned it for not following its dress code, even though the shoe was designed by Peter Moore. The shoe quickly became a hit as Nike continued to market it.

The Air Jordan II

Despite Jordan's desire to make this shoe solely dedicated to his brand, it did not come with the Nike Swoosh logo. In 1986, the Air Jordan II was designed by Bruce Kilgore and included a leather upper, a full-length Air cushioning unit, as well as a distinctive design inspired by luxury shoes.

The Air Jordan III

As a result of Tinker Hatfield's design work, the Air Jordan III was released in 1988. It featured several innovative design elements, such as the elephant print on the upper and the visible Air cushioning unit in the heel. Air Jordan III also featured the Jumpman logo for the first time, helping establish the brand as a cultural icon by becoming synonymous with it.

The Air Jordan IV

A signature design element of future Air Jordans is the "Flight" logo, which has been coined by Tinker Hatfield and features a mesh panel on the upper.

The Air Jordan V

Tinker Hatfield designed the 1990 Air Jordan V, which featured shark tooth on the midsole, a clear outsole, and was inspired by WWII fighter planes.

The Air Jordan VI

A sleek design modeled after Michael Jordan's Porsche, the Air Jordan VI was also designed by Tinker Hatfield in 1991. It has molded heel tabs and visible Air cushioning in the heel. In addition, it had a unique design element, with perforations marking "Air Jordan."

The Air Jordan VII

Designed by Tinker Hatfield and released in 1992, the Air Jordan VII won Michael Jordan his second gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Inspired by African tribal art, it featured a neoprene inner sleeve and a sock liner similar to that of the Huarache.

The Air Jordan VIII

Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan VIII was released in 1993. Michael Jordan wore the shoe when he retired from basketball in 1993.

The Air Jordan IX

This shoe was designed by Tinker Hatfield and released in 1994. It features a globe graphic on the outsole and a "23" on the heel tab.

The Air Jordan X

Jordan's career accomplishments were printed on the outsole of this Air Jordan shoe, which was the first Air Jordan shoe released after Jordan retired from basketball.