The Air Jordan 2: the “black sheep” of the Jordan lineage

In 1984, Nike, one of the pioneers in the creation of basketball shoes, signed a contract worth 2.5 million dollars with Michael Jordan. After the commercial success of the Air Jordan 1 in 1985, the American brand launched the second model of the line, the Air Jordan 2, the following year. Imagined by Bruce Kilgore, the designer of the legendary Air Force 1, and Peter Moore, the model was intended to provide more comfort and safety to the NBA player after a foot injury during his second season.

Made in Italy with high-quality materials, the pair combines luxury and performance. The aim? To make the Air Jordan 2 the first luxury sneaker. Its sleek design, stripped of the “Swoosh”, the brand’s iconic logo, and its cutting-edge technology were thus intended to appeal to a more upscale market.

Despite a remarkable season with the Air Jordan 2 on his feet, during which he won the first of his 7 best scorer titles with an average of 37.1 points per game, "His Airness" said he was "not a fan of its style", which he considered too heavy. Despite a high price, the clean and sophisticated lines of the pair seduced basketball fans. After a good start, the public ended up snubbing the second model in the range. Was it due to too bold a positioning? To be continued...

2022: the year of renewal for the Air Jordan 2?

Despite successful collaborations over the years with designer Don C, rapper Eminem and the Carhartt brand, and singer J Balvin, the Air Jordan 2 has failed to delight sneaker addicts in the same way as the other models in the range. After the release of the first Air Jordan 1 Off-White™ in 2017, whose success marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with Virgil Abloh, the founder and creator of the label , Nike entrusted the famous artistic creator with the revival of the Air Jordan 2 in 2021. With a yellowed and “worn” sole, textured white leather and exposed foam, the American designer pays homage to the original 1986 model with a vintage version.

Nike has understood it well: collaborations with resolutely modern fashion houses allow to bring shunned models back into fashion. After revisiting the Air Jordan 1 in 2019, the Parisian brand Maison Château Rouge is tackling the Air Jordan 2. Original and trendy, the collaboration between Nike and Youssouf Fofana looks promising. While “chunky” pairs are widely acclaimed today, the Air Jordan 2 could thus (re)make a place for itself among the best sellers. Although it did not meet with the expected success in 1986, was the “Italian Stallion” not simply too avant-garde for the time? The biases of 1986 resonate today as a real evidence. Luxury, performance, technology… the recipe for a winning trio?

3 Air Jordan 2 Models to Watch in 2022

For a few years now, vintage has been making a comeback on the catwalks (and in closets). Driven by the growth of the second-hand sector, the past is now in fashion. If they didn't appeal to sneakerheads at the time, will the Air Jordan 2 be able to count on the 90s revival to once again establish themselves in the sneaker game? Here's a look at the models to watch (very) closely in 2022:

• Air Jordan 2 x Maison Château Rouge : With this resolutely modern vintage model, with yellow and orange accents, Youssouf Fofana pays tribute to his Senegalese roots. Will the sole decorated with the image of Michael Jordan make his fans want to follow in his footsteps? Answer in a few weeks.

• Air Jordan 2 x Union SP Grey Fog and Air Jordan 2 x Union SP Rattan : Chris Gibbs and the famous American shop created in Los Angeles have unveiled a revisited version of the 1986 model. Planned for spring, the two pastel sneakers are adorned with a nylon base and perforated suede inserts.

• Air Jordan 2 Low x Off-White™ Black and White : Before his passing in November 2021, the famous founder and creator of the Off-White™ label, Virgil Abloh, used his timeless talent and attention to detail to (re)give the Air Jordan 2 Low all its splendor.

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