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by Steve Jaconetta
images by Steve Jaconetta & Nike
Today marks the eight-year Anniversary of the release of the first Jordan Spiz’ike. In celebration, we take a look at the lineage of this hybrid classic.
The Jordan Spiz’ike made its debut in October of 2006. Made to pay homage to Spike Lee and his Mars Blackmon character that helped launch the Air Jordan line with its unique advertisements. The 'Spike and Mike' hybrid combines each Air Jordan that Mars Blackmon was aligned with. Those sneakers include the Air Jordan III, IV, V, VI and XX.
Featuring the midsole and outsole of the Air Jordan III along with elephant print detailing, the wing strap of the IV, the upper and lace locks of the V, the tongue of the VI and laser print found on the sockliner, representing the Air Jordan XX. Their initial release was limited to 4,032 pairs, each individually numbered on the hang tag that accompanied each pair.
In 2007, the Spiz’ike would get a wider release as seven colorways including one exclusively for women and another an online exclusive that came packaged with a messenger bag. The first four releases were only available in men’s sizes, the ‘King’s County’ edition was the first colorway available in gradeschool.
For Christmas of ’07, Jordan Brand made the white and cement grey colorway the first Jordan Spiz’ike to drop in full-family sizing, all the way down to toddler and, a true general release. Three colorways would follow in 2008, two dropping alongside each other and another that was available exclusively in Europe. In 2009, the Spiz’ike was ‘Winterized’ into a sneakerboot for the holidays.
After a one-year hiatus, Jordan Brand brought the Spiz’ike back in 2010 for the ‘Silver Anniversary’ of the Air Jordan. Five colorways released, each pair drawing specific inspiration from one of the Air Jordan models that makes up the sneaker. In 2011, JB answered the fans prayers by releasing two ‘Knicks’ renditions, inspired by Spike Lee’s personal exclusives. In 2012 and 2013 the Jordan Spiz’ike had another surge with eight new colorways as well as debuting on NIKEiD.
Then, just when we thought we saw the last of the Jordan Spiz’ike (for now), Jordan Brand brought them back in the summer of 2014. Kicking things off was a retro of the ‘OG’ white, red, and green colorway. This time around, 29,032 pairs were released, 25,000 more than the original pair from 2006. They also were individually numbered on the hang tag and, were available in men’s sizes only.
Looking ahead, you can expect to see a few more Spiz’ike’s release in 2014. With 2015 being the 30th Anniversary of the Air Jordan and Jordan Brand bringing back the Dub Zero, the fate of the Jordan Spiz’ike is up in the air. Could it we continue to see new colorways release or, will it go back into the archives, so that the Dub Zero can take over the reigns of the Jordan hybrid line? Only time will tell. For now, let’s take a look at the history of the Jordan Spiz’ike from its first release up to the most recent below.
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Jordan Spiz’ike
315371-161 White/Varsity Red-Cool Grey-Classic Green
10/21/2006
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Jordan Spiz’ike
315371-061 Black/Varsity Red-Classic Green
01/27/2007
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘True Blue
315371-163 White/Varsity Red-True Blue
04/28/2007
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Jordan Spiz’ike
315371-164 White/Varsity Red-Cement Grey-Black
05/16/2007
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘King’s County’
315371-071 Black/Taxi-White-Varsity Red
08/18/2007
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Do The Right Thing’
315371-162 White/Varsity Red-Argon Blue-Pro Gold
09/22/2007
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Jordan Spiz’ike Women’s
317574-062 Black/Pink Fire-Ice Blue
11/17/2007
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Jordan Spiz’ike
315371-101 White/Cement Grey-Varsity Red-Black
11/23/2007
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Euro’
315371-071 Black/Gold Dust
07/11/2008
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Stealth’
315371-091 Stealth/Black-White-Light Graphite
12/24/2008
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Citron’
315371-031 Black/Citron-Pure Purple-White
12/24/2008
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Fire Red’
315371-165 White/Fire Red-Black
01/09/2010
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Cement’
315371-062 Black/Varsity Red-Cement Grey-True Blue
02/20/2010
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Jordan Spiz’ike
315371-102 White/Aqua Tone-Varsity Purple-Varsity Red
04/03/2010
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Infrared’
315371-002 Black/New Blue-White-Infrared
05/08/2010
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Jordan Spiz’ike
315371-001 Black/Varsity Red-Stealth
06/05/2010
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Knicks’
315371-405 Blue Ribbon/Orange Flash-Black-White
11/05/2011
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Knicks’
315371-805 Orange Flash/Blue Ribbon-Black-White
11/05/2011
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Pop Art’
315371-070 Neutral Grey/Varsity Maize-Dark Shadow-Classic Green-Laser Blue-Varsity Red-Black
02/04/2012
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Italy Blue’
315371-415 University Blue/White-Italy Blue-Vivid Orange
02/24/2012
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Jordan Spiz’ike
315371-601 Gym Red/Black-Dark Grey-White
10/20/2012
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Jordan Spiz’ike
315371-030 Black/University Gold-Cool Grey-White
12/08/2012
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Jordan Spiz’ike
315371-053 Black/Challenge Red-Light British Tan-Khaki
01/01/2013
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Jordan Spiz’ike BHM ‘Black History Month’
579593-712 Volt/Black-Photo Blue
02/09/2013
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘3M’
315371-050 Black/Challenge Red-Metallic Silver-Tour Yellow
03/02/2013
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Easter’
315371-056 Stealth/Poison Green-University Blue-Blitz Blue-Vivid Sulpher
03/30/2013
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘OG’
315371-125 White/Varsity Red-Cement Grey-Classic Green
08/09/2014
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Jordan Spiz’ike ‘Space Blue’
315371-407 Space Blue/Fusion Pink-Wolf Grey-Tropical Teal
10/16/2014
Steve Jaconetta is the Release Dates & Archive Editor of Sole Collector and you can follow him on Twitter here.