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

 

In 1984, Nike, one of the pioneers in basketball shoe creation, signed a $2.5 million contract with Michael Jordan. After the commercial success of the Air Jordan 1 in 1985, the American brand launched the second model in the line, the Air Jordan 2, the following year. Designed by Bruce Kilgore, the designer of the legendary Air Force 1, and Peter Moore, the model aimed to provide more comfort and security 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 goal? To make the Air Jordan 2 the first luxury basketball shoe. Its sleek design stripped of the “Swoosh,” the brand’s iconic logo, and its cutting-edge technology were intended to appeal to a more upscale market. 

 

Despite a remarkable season wearing the Air Jordan 2, during which he won the first of his 7 scoring titles with an average of 37.1 points per game, “His Airness” declared he was not “a fan of its style,” which he found too heavy. Despite a high price, the pair’s clean and sophisticated lines attracted basketball fans. After a good start, the public eventually also began to shun the second model in the range. Was it due to a too bold 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, the Carhartt brand, and singer J Balvin, the Air Jordan 2 has not managed to captivate sneaker addicts to the same extent as 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. Yellowed and “worn” sole, textured white leather, and visible foam, the American designer pays tribute to the original 1986 model with a vintage version. 

 

Nike clearly understands: collaborations with decidedly modern fashion houses allow overlooked models to be brought back into fashion. After revisiting the Air Jordan 1 in 2019, the Parisian brand Maison Château Rouge takes on the Air Jordan 2. Original and trendy, the collaboration between Nike and Youssouf Fofana looks promising. While “chunky” pairs are widely popular today, the Air Jordan 2 could thus (re)claim a place among the best sellers. Although it did not meet the expected success in 1986, was the “Italian Stallion” simply too avant-garde for its time? The choices of 1986 now resonate as a real certainty. Luxury, performance, technology… the recipe for a winning trio? 

 

3 Air Jordan 2 models to watch in 2022 

 

For several years, vintage has been reinvesting runways (and closets). Driven by the growth of the second-hand sector, the past is now in fashion. If they did not appeal to sneaker enthusiasts at the time, can the Air Jordan 2 count on the revival of the 90s to establish themselves again in the sneaker game? Overview of the models to watch very closely in 2022: 

 

• Air Jordan 2 x Maison Château Rouge: With this decidedly modern vintage model, featuring yellow and orange accents, Youssouf Fofana pays tribute to his Senegalese roots. The sole crafted with Michael Jordan’s emblem will it 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 founded in Los Angeles have unveiled a revisited version of the 1986 model. Scheduled for spring, the two pastel sneakers feature a nylon base and perforated suede overlays.

 

• 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 meticulousness to (re)give the Air Jordan 2 Low all its splendor. 

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