words // Brandon Richard
via Press Release
Today, the Jordan Brand officially unveiled the Air Jordan 2012, the 27th shoe in the iconic Air Jordan franchise. Designed to encourage today's athletes to rethink performance, this year's model builds upon the Air Jordan 2011's two midsole modular system by featuring two interchangeable inner sleeves and three interchangeable midsoles for performance customization. The Air Jordan 2012 Deluxe will be available in two colorways nationwide on Wednesday, February 8 for a suggested retail price of $223, with the Air Jordan 2012 Flight System launching on Saturday, February 25 for a suggested retail price of $180.
The Air Jordan 2012 draws inspiration form the legacy of Michael Jordan and combines innovative technology and premium materials to remain one of the best performance shoes on the market. Athletes are given the ability to customize for their unique playing styles with a modular system that offers six different configurations.
"Through comprehensive research we saw an increasing need for footwear that could be customized to meet the needs of the world’s best athletes," said Tinker Hatfield, Air Jordan 2012 co-designer and Vice President, Special Projects and Creative Design for Nike, Inc. "Last year’s Air Jordan 2011 began the modular story for the brand with two interchangeable midsoles, but we took it a step further this year by introducing two interchangeable inner sleeves and three interchangeable midsoles to help players 'fly through', 'fly over' or 'fly around' their opponents."
For players with an aerial game, the green 'Fly Around' midsole features a Nike Zoom unit in the heel for lightweight and responsive cushioning. The blue 'Fly Over' midsole incorporates a Nike Zoom unit in the forefoot and an encapsulated Air sole in the heel for the perfect blend of responsiveness and impact protection. An orange 'Fly Through' midsole houses a full-length encapsulated Air Sole unit and provides cushioning and impact protection for hard landings in the paint.
Two interchangeable inner sleeves are included with the Air Jordan 2012, one for players that need to be quicker on the court and desire more freedom of motion in the ankle, while the high-cut inner sleeve enhances protection around the foot and provides advanced ankle support.
At the helm for the project were legendary sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield and Jordan Brand Senior Footwear Designer Tom Luedecke. The two provided a design that continues the tradition of using premium materials on the upper by combining Flywire technology with rich, full-grain leather overlays for lightweight support and a crafted look. Additionally, the new model features an innovative "Flight Carbon" plate in the midfoot that is made with a combination of glass and carbon fiber and is contoured to the natural shape of the foot for optimal support.
"As a basketball player, I always wanted a shoe that adapted with my game," said Michael Jordan. "On any given night I had to adjust my style of play for countless reasons and the Air Jordan 2012 meets those needs with six different configurations. I’m proud to say there is not another shoe like it in the market."
The Air Jordan 2012 Flight System will be customizable at retail based on the consumers style of play and will feature one inner sleeve and one midsole for a suggested retail price of $180 and will be available on Saturday, February 25.
