Decoded: The Hidden Details of Air Jordans, Vol. 3

Ever wonder what some of the details on Air Jordans actually mean?

One of the key elements of signature shoes, and part of what makes them “signature” is the chance to include personal details and storytelling about the athlete into the shoe itself. Sometimes these elements are told through direct inspiration, like incorporating Michael Jordan’s Ferrari into the design language of the Air Jordan 14. But sometimes things aren’t so obvious and are only told through subtle details. Here, Sole Collector's Decoded series features five more signature details in Air Jordans that you may have missed over the years. 

Air Jordan 6

Year: 1991

Decoded: It’s harder to see on colorways with solid uppers,but the panels on the side of the Air Jordan 6 reveal a very interesting pattern. Check out a pair with contrasting overlays like the Carmines to notice a large “2” and “3“ built into the design, and spanning the entire upper.

Air Jordan 11

Year: 1995

Decoded: The embroidered strip on the tongue of the Air Jordan 11 may look like a series of random symbols when viewed from the front, but when turned to the side and viewed vertically, this tag reads “JUMPMAN JORDAN.” The tag on the 2000 release of the Space Jams took things a step even further, reading “JUMPMAN JAM.”

Air Jordan 18

Year: 2003

Decoded: Automotive influence is found all throughout the Air Jordan 18, including the wrap-around heel, which is often seen on men’s driving loafers. The purpose of the nubs is to protect the leather in a high-wear area from operation of the clutch, gas and brake pedals. In this example, each shoe featured nine raised bumps, as a nod to the 18thedition of the line.

Air Jordan 2009

Year: 2009

Decoded: The “Jordan” logos on the Air Jordan 2009 were given a special touch. Each one is an ambigram, meaning it reads the same – “Jordan” - regardless of orientation.

Air Jordan 2011

Year: 2011

Decoded: The tread pattern onthe sole of the Air Jordan 2011 appears similar to the traction found on the Air Jordan XX3. Rather than utilizing MJ’s fingerprint for inspiration however, it takes its design cues from a different element of MJ’s life. The pattern is actually based on elephant print that’s been twisted for optimal traction.