The Air Jordan Legacy - Part 3 of 5
Like the Jordan 11 the Air Jordan XIVs arrived to a little bit of frosty reception, however, finally they had the last laugh. What do Michael Jordan in his prime and the Ferrari 550 Maranello have in common dare you ask? Well both were lovely, smooth, lightning quick, reactive, high-performance machines. Described as ‘essentially flawless’ by one online magazine this was one baller than genuinely had it all. Designed with minimum shock reduction and a leaner design with the intention that the AJXIV was to be an extension of the foot it contained a low-profile Zoom Air help that afforded a cosy yet non-pillowy ride. Along the way, the XIVs started a few styles for example metal lace tips with jumpman engraving and launch in a wide range of daring, fresh colorways such as ‘Oxidized Green’. Maybe because people were unaccustomed to the brand-new design and Michael had recently retired, the 14s did not sell well initially, however, as customers adjusted sales picked up. Today, the AJ XIVs, not like the 13s, are almost universally, broadly highly regarded for both their looks and functionality; the high prices for deadstock sets on Ebay serve as a reminder of the legacy of the 14s.
Now if you consider the 13s and 14s were questionable footwear wait until you check out the Air Jordan XVs. Motivated by the progressive NASA X-15 top secret super sonic jet this is definitely one of the more controversial adore it or dislike it sneakers in the Air Jordan Collection to date. This athletic shoe presents a minimalist/sleek design that is counteract by an intruding AJ signature tongue (inspired by the man himself marauding to the hoop) and flashes of colour (although the Jordan 1 reverted to more traditional colorways). Besides the protruding tongue and sonic jet styling the other innovative feature on the XV is the Pebax supportive heelpiece. This jogging shoe broke new ground as the very first to come in two different flavours; the usual lowtop and the ‘Moc’ version consisting of ’shoehorn’ tongue and interwoven upper.
Looking for a brand new creative challenge after certain experimental yet controversial produces Tinker Hatfield stepped away from designing AJs for a while. The most fascinating new growth on the Jordan 8, besides the gaiter feature that gave this shoe a distinct personality, was the improvement as it was developed by Wilson Smith rather than Tinker Hatfield; Smith had worked with Hatfield for many years previously to developing the 16s and like Hatfield also started his career as an architect (he now designs ‘homes for the feet’ he says). Wilson Smith’s influence on the sneaker could be felt in the following ways: the removable gaiter with magnetic and Velcro fasteners, a mix of quality materials on the upper including leather, mesh, suede and patent leather, blow moulded air pockets in the heel, a clear rubber outsole and detailed Jordan/Jumpman branding specifics throughout the shoe. What is really striking about this trainer is the patent leather and obviously the AJ16 signature gaiter aka shroud; it meant that MJ the businessman could make a seamless transition from taking care of business off the court to on it by removing the gaiter and exposing the mesh, laces and attitude of a true baller. Another trademark of the XVI is the clear/digital motif outsole design put together with the comfy fit of the midtop with the gaiter attached (the 16 also came in a low that had an option to flip up the collar for some extra swagger).
