Words by Offspring Community member Henry Pedro @Blcklistd
“Some say Nike Air Jordan 3 is the shoe that saved Nike. Without Nike Air Jordan 3, there is no Jordan brand. Others may say the same for Air Jordan 1 or other Air Jordan models. However, Nike Air Jordan 3 is the shoe that redeemed Nike.”
The flagship colourway with the Nike Air Jordan 3 has to be ‘Black Cement’. Unfortunately, the black cement colourway only featured once at the NBA All-Star 88. The fact Michael Jordan only wore the shoes in that one game has created a mystique that lives beyond that moment. The appeal for that colourway has resulted in six subsequent releases over 40 years since its first outing in 1988.
Other essential colourways in the franchise include the ‘True Blues’, ‘Fire Reds’ and ‘White Cement’. These colourways featured during the 87-88 season in the NBA. The quartet of Air Jordan 3s mentioned are considered the originals or ‘OGs’ of the lineage.
I remember catching the magical moments of the legend Michael Jordan wearing his shoe on cable TV during the early morning hours or viewing the highlight shows on Channel 4 back in the 1980s and 90s. Pre-internet days, living in the UK, these were the few ways of watching the NBA.
In the early 2000s, the earlier retro Air Jordan models started to sport the ‘Jumpman’ logo on the heel rather than the ‘Nike Air’ logo. Fans of the Air Jordan franchise have considered this blasphemous. Being the sneaker snob that I can be, the swapping of branded logos is akin to modifying history that never occurred, mainly as I've grown with the Air Jordan franchise from my teenage years.
The signature of the Air Jordan 3 is the elephant print on the mudguard, which wraps around the toe-box and on the shoe’s heel. Unmistakable from a distance.
The Nike Air Jordan 3 ‘Dark Iris’, like the AJ3s mentioned, sports this iconic signature. A purple heel counter with a matching purple collar and accents on the eyelets provide this rendition with its distinct look. A clean-looking shoe, the ‘Dark Iris’ is a necessary addition to the collection for any Air Jordan 3 fans.
Nonetheless, my appreciation for Air Jordan 3 has only been recent. Appreciating the franchise through a new lens, with the model's history and timeless appeal. With that said, I believe the Air Jordan 3 model has three standouts beyond the variants mentioned in this piece.
First is the Atmos Nike Air Max 1 x Nike Air Jordan 3 ‘Elephant Pack’ from 2017. I missed a trick by not purchasing the two beautiful shoes from the pack. Released as part of Air Max Month, the sneakers celebrate the synergy between Hirofumi Kojima’s creation in the Atmos x Air Max 1 and the Air Jordan 3. Next up is the ‘White Cement’ Free Throw Line. This shoe in 2018 pays homage to a moment, thirty years earlier, in the All-Star Dunk Contest in 1988. Michael Jordan manages to score a dunk from the, yes, the free throw line.
The final shoe to mention and one that I am proud to own is the Air Jordan 3 x A Ma Maniere. This shoe is a serious contender for my favourite ever Jordan shoe.
A beautiful shoe that pays tribute to black women that are single parents. ‘Raised by Woman’ is a story by James Whitner (the owner of the A Ma Maniere), of his mother buying him his first Jordan, an Air Jordan 3.
Check out more from Henry on Instagram @Blcklistd and OffspringHQ for info on the AJ3 Dark Iris release.
