words // Zack Schlemmer
Tomorrow brings us the release of the Air Jordan 5 Retro in one of its original colorways of White/Black/Fire Red, so in typical Flashback fashion, we'll celebrate with a gallery full of Michael Jordan in the originals.
Originally releasing at retail in 1990, the Air Jordan V was the shoe MJ wore for the 1989-90 NBA Season. During the regular season he switched between this colorway with the reflective 3M tongue and the "other" Fire Red V with the black fabric tongue and reversed midsole color blocking. The Air Jordan V, which was designed by Tinker Hatfield and inspired by World War II bomber planes, had three notable firsts in the Air Jordan line: clear outsole, reflective material and lace lock, all three of which would reappear on various Air Jordans down the line. Pair those three design elements with the clear netting on the upper and iconic "shark teeth" on the midsole, and you get one of the greatest Air Jordans of all.
