The blueprint of the Air Jordan statement shoe is sketched at least 20 months before product launch. Working from his homeland on Oregon’s Gearhart Beach, Tinker Hatfield dipped his pen in company ink in November of 2005 to conceive this early mock up of the Air Jordan XX3:
The Air Jordan XX3 (23) was unveiled to the public last Tuesday at Nike’s New York headquarters. A rousing presentation of branded Michael Jordan video and anecdotal homage was cast by a panel of Tier-0 staff.
(L:R- Tinker Hatfield, Gentry Humphrey, Hannah Jones, Roman Vega)
Most attendees at the Air Jordan XX3 unveiling represented mainstream media outlets who covered the event for what it was. Sneaker Files would have done the same, but a live Q’ and A’ forum emerged in the room following the Jordan XX3 presentation. Questions were posed by representatives from media powerhouses such as CNN and Market Watch. Mainstream media outlets relay sneaker information in Layman’s terms for the world to comprehend, as the masses are not likely to read about a “hypothetical” concept discussion about the emerging Air Jordan XX4.
A few hours following the event, Sneaker Files published a news break that the Air Jordan XX4 (24) had been “conceived.” Perhaps we ignorantly overshadowed the Air Jordan XX3 launch by publishing the Air Jordan XX4 “conceived” buzz item. Our Jordan XX4 story from last week was not a lead of misinformation or unnecessary hype. The leaders of Brand Jordan confirmed that work towards the Air Jordan XX4 is progressing in a form other than the imaginary.
Meet Gentry Humphrey (right), Footwear Business Director for the Jordan Brand, and Tinker Hatfield (left) Vice President of Nike Innovation, Design, and Special Projects:
Speaking about the Air Jordan XX4 last Tuesday at the unveiling of the Air Jordan XX3, Gentry repeated and rebutted his previous statement, “If I’m around, it’s going to end at (Jordan shoe, number) 23.” Gentry conceded, stating “I said that thinking that I would be doing something else… Now that I’m here, I think that because of the legacy we created, it’s incumbent upon us to continue to set the benchmark for the industry.”
And so my friends, this is why we open our Sneaker Files…
Tinker Hatfield candidly elaborated on Gentry’s words:
“It’s true that we’ve been working on a statement basketball shoe for the Jordan line, and we have a team on it. But we don’t really know (and Michael doesn’t know…) how it’s going to materialize.”
Tinker continued, “There’s ongoing design work, you bet there is!” Adding, “Personally, I’m not so sure there should be a XX4.”
Finally, Tinker mentioned how it’s up to our reader reactions to determine the future of Brand Jordan. Believe it or not, your comments right here on Sneaker Files and other forums of new media are being read, tracked, and considered by Nike and the Jordan Brand.
Gentry stated in at least one previous interview that the Air Jordan would stop at 23. I do not like it when people or companies in the public eye go back on their word. Since he said this, he should stick to his word and stop at 23. It was Jordan's jersey number, and as Gentry said, there is no point in continuing the line past 23. If Brand Jordan continues to release an equivalent "top tier" product and simply named it something different, I would be fine with that. I was thinking something along the lines of "Jordan 2009." I know many other people feel the same way as I do. I hope my comments will reach the people who will be involved in making this decision. Thank you for your time!
As long *** retro's are out I'm good jay's been slackin since da 15's
retro som |V's
As long *** retro's are out I'm good jay's been slackin since da 15's da technology might have goten better but the looks on them were not appealling ……nd don't stop now finish of with a bang! Da 23's wasn't as good as I thought it wud b
retro som |V's
they should stop at the 23's…lets be serious even if they stop at 23, its still not gonna be the end of the jordan brand and they still will be releasing sneakers only of different names and not numbers…jordan is starting to fall downhill anyway..with all the retros and stuff they keep putting out, you already know jordan isnt going to be done anytime soon..
JB should've stopped after Jordan's retirement in 99 & again in 03!!…Air Jordans should only be made when the man himself plays in them…Cash in on retros in "TRUE ORIGINAL FORM"…(using EXACT same materials,design,ie: NIKE AIR, & include og box)at a high price for the real collectors, call it "Premium Jordan"…JB should've stopped the main fleet line a looong time ago…
i say keep makin shoes till you get to air jordan retro 50's why stop now when you get 2 50 it can be all 50 shoes in 1 with evry color you can think of you feel me
Stopping here would be wonderful. All I know is no matter where they stop I will be at the store on saturdays to pick up my pair. My question is are they going to re-release the XI I am dying to get my hands on a pair of those.
I think it should stop at 23. His whole legacy speaks for it's self. No one else shoes sell as hard as some "Jordans" does and MJ is retired. So he should focus on his the athletes sorting the "Jordan Brand" Big MJ Fan, from Day 1. GO BULLS:)
You just can't stop at XX3 it just isn't right to the loyal fans that look forward to this line of shoes every year, like me i spent every dime I get too air jordans and to me 23 isnt enough you shouldn't stop making the best basketball shoes line ever made. Jordans was the first shoes i fell in love with and still the only shoe brand and love.
Mais oui, stoppé la série à 23 c'est bon!!
Par contre ressortir des paires mythiques:
- AJVII BLACK/GREY, celle du all star game!!
- AJVI Black/Infrared
- Et pourqouoi pas un pack 'titre' avec les
6 modèles playoff!!
- ou un pack "slam dunk Contest" aux couleurs d'origines
- Sinon, créer les site "Jordan ID" avec tous les modèles.
Sinon, pour les passionnés comme moi, un fauteuil jordan à partir de la AJXII (à voir sur mon site "www.ericjuillet.fr" dans "mobilier design"
Voilà, petite pensées de France avec mes 27 paires de Jordan,
____________________________________________________
But yes, the series stopped at 23 is good!
However highlight pairs mythical:
- AJVII BLACK / GREY, the all star game shoes!
- AJVI Black / Infrared, the shoes of the first title
- And why not a pack "title pack" with
6 playoff models!
- Or a pack "slam dunk Contest" colored backgrounds
- Alternatively, create the site "Jordan ID" with all models
Otherwise, for enthusiasts like me, an armchair jordan from the AJXII (to be seen on "www.ericjuillet.fr" in "mobilier design"
So, small thoughts of France with my 27 pairs of Jordan
keep the jays coming dont stop the people cant get enuff jays are just getn hotta and hotta aslong jordan and tinka are around jays are going to keep on komeing GW34
If Ur Guna Stop at 23 the go ahead….but if u do dont stop making retros because we all love em'…if u do decide 2 go on then make the shoe likeable….
i say keep da **** goin stop bein so damn selfish cuz we got 2 rok em man i want my jit n his jitz 2 b rokin j's dnt stop suin so great jordan keep yo legacy goin!
My comments are more about the comments on SF that I have read today and in the past. I don't consider myself a collector, but I have my share of Sneakers. I am over 30 and a lot of these People don't know how stupid they sound. Listen, One of the main reason Air Jordans are made are for the basketball court. If you are over 30 AJ shoes never look nice when you first look at them. They grow on you, and everyone don't look at things the same way.
Example, Rareairtone comments. What in the hell are you talking about. If Jordan was playing today and wearing the 23s' you will be wearing them too. That's the way it was when he was playing. Now that he is not, it is for the ball players, he makes them for the court. Numbered Js' are for the court. He has a casual line. Have you notice MJ colorway for All Star Games? Lets go in reverse. Lets say the 23s' were the First AJs', and the retros are the newer AJs. You all will be saying the dam samething about the 1s' through 14s'. Dude Mercedes/BMW don't retro cars, if they did you wouldn't be able to afford them. Make make new cars and upgrade them Technology son. Think the internet wasn't around in the 70s' 80s' things change AJ 1 is different than AJ 2.
you should stop when he retires
oh wait you already ruined it
KEEP COMING OUT WIT J'S DONT STOP, DO ANOTHER COLABRATION WITH THE DUNKS!!!!!!!!
Ok i want more retros at a LOWER price.(try $100).NO LIMITED RELEASES THEY CREATE HYPE. less packages.Better quality materials on retros.(take the cement spizikes for an example fake leather are yall serious???the leather on the toeboax is fake and yall got the nerve to charge $175). (The quality on retro jordans went from sugar to ****).I want NO HYPE.No limited shoes like 200 pair thats stupid and i have a long list that i dont fell like typing i think yall get the picture.
yes 2 24s
can't wait
FIRST OF ALL HALF THE PEOPLE WHO BUY JORDANS AINT NEVER SEE JORDAN PLAY, AND IF HE WASNT MAKING SHOES, THEY PROLLY WOULDNT KNOW WHO HE IS ALLTOGETHER. BOTTOM LINE THIS NEW GENERATION CANT APPRECIATE JORDAN SO STOP AT THIS SHOE.
i think if they do a xx24 they should make it nice unlike the 15-23 i think they should think like how they use to think or mix every shoe or something becuase they are making some ulgly designs now days the 23 look live some dwayne wade shoes bro if they contunue like this i dont kno man
xx3 is all we need end on a good note Please Tinker.
I love Air Jordans obviously you don't know how passionate I am about them, there's something inside of me that doesn't want it to end because Jordans are getting better and better (real fans would know that) but I do want it to end w/ XX3's they are the greatest sneakers ever and you should focus on making sick team models like in the late 90's w/ the Team 1's and stuff like that so do what you want JB
I don't know if its because im a die hard JORDAN fan for life, or the latest shoes are just that mind blowing (i buy em regardless) but these 23's and fusions got me pullin my hair out waitin to smell that fresh JORDAN smell, it differs from the regular new shoe smell, might be jus me. keep em comin, somebody said stop at 23, why we still have generations to come that need that same fresh JORDAN smell. -ooslim23 halla
I think Jordan Brand should stop at XX3 but like 3 or 5 years later come out with the XX4 then the following year skip everything and make the 45's.Then everyone is going to be like "WOW".Just an opinion…..but anyways I think you guys really,really,really need to retro the BRED 11's,INFRARED VI's,and the VII HARES!!
I think it should end at 23 also. I grew up wearing the originals that everybodys sporting now like it some new fad. The materials on these new ones are way different then the originals. I dislike the jumpman on the back of the shoe also. Please put Nike Air on the back of the shoe where it's suppose to be. It's not even special anymore like it was because of the fakes. It was priceless feel sporting a pair of fresh J's. It was a fun ride.
PLEASE BRING BACK THE 17s if you dont do nothing else. And i really think u should stop at 23, so it wont mess up the significance of the number. U should make some jordans that would symbolize his number 45 though. Just a thought!!! But if you dont, you'll see me in a couple of years.
stop at the 23's!!!….please. re-retro all the 11's. also what's up with the jordan brand store in the city(nyc) with the retro store in the basement???
I think you should stop at 23 because that's the number Mike wore and what the Jordan legacy is known for. Jordan Brand should continue to retro the OG colorways that have yet to be re-released, such as September Blue VI's and Powder Blue X's.
oh JB… PLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE dignify main man money and stop at #23
if u just wanna make money, make the shoes, just don't put a number on it any more
I enjoy new models such as XVII-23 much more than retros but I think you guys should take a chillpill w/ the amount of sneakers produced, release less retros please
ALL AIR JORDNAS AFTER THE 5 ARE **** AND ANYONE WHO THINKSS OTHERWISE IS A LAME DUCK
I AGREE with mY Man loU DiamONd KOuDsi
I agree wit mkey mikal when he says alot of 90s kids dont understand and they think its cool 2 go past 23. That **** is wack it defeats the purpose of the legacy. I was born in 89 and i was fortunate 2 hav cousins dat skooled me on da jordan game and for flight club shout outs 2 chris vidal. I know wat it feels like 2 hav a pair of OGs i might b young but i feel tha same way u do. As for JB goes stop @ 23 cuz with 1-23 that legacy is written stone. Its an era of rich history and should b documented in the history books.And deez packs r makin my pockets hav asthma attacks but i love Js so i do it anyway. For now i wanna see sum ogs i missed out on I NEED DA BORDEAUXS,HARES,INFARED6s,CEMENT4s,SUPERSONIC10s,POWDER9s plzzzzzzzzz bring em out!!!!!!!!!!!!
I personally think that they should stop @ 23, 23 is his number and its the perfect way to end his signature shoe line, they can still do retros, shoes for jordan brand players, or if they really want to continue how bout go back to one and name it "new generation", 24 will not make sense, or just continue releasing but do not number it, whatever decisions you make, JB will be the best
STOP WHILE YOUR AHEEADDD
LET ME GIVE U AN EXAMPLE POKEMON A WORLD SENSATION I STOPPED WATCHIN THAT **** AFTER 151 SERIOUSLY WHEN THEY TOLD USE U GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL I WAS SO CLOSE BUT THAN BAM EVEN MORE POKEMON SO I WAS LIKE W/E IMMA STOP
NOW LOOK UR GONE MAKE THA SaME MISTAKE NUMBNUTS
STOP AT XX3
VOTE NO ON 24
end it at 23… the j's were made popular by the player in the shoes. I remember as a kid waiting to see jordan play just to see what shoes he had on. If he can do that in those shoes, i can do that in his shoe, or at least that part of my game would look like his… half the kids now wearing the shoe never seen him play so pass on the torch and let the likes of chris paul develop his own fan base cause the jordan fans are going to be there and continue to buy the retros cause i always need some j's 1,2,3,…23.
By the way chris paul first shoe is ugly. go in a new direction stop using jordan inspiration and use original thoughts for current players signature shoes. who knows one of these brand jordan players may spark a new run at 23.
PLZ STOP AT 23…IF NOT THEN WHEN????WHATS THE POINT….KEEP RETROING BUT MAKE IT HARDER AND HARDER…..THEY DOIN IT BIG FOR THE 23RD YEAR…WHY GO HIGHER….I BET JORDAN WANTS 2 STOP FOR HIS #….
stop it wouldnt be right 2 go past 23
Don't stop at the XXIII!! It finally looks like jordans are finally starting to look better. My self and a lot of jordan heads would love to see a release that reminds us of the old days where every new jordan was something great. something that is minimalist but still a great design.
i think that it would b bette rif dey jus stop it at 23 because it would jus b corny and just release more retros dat were never released like da hare 7 boardeux 7 powder 9 chi town 10 and white infared 6
make 1 more called the 45
I think they should continue making more Air Jordan shoes beyond XX3. But they should stop at 45 because thats MJ's other number. If they're going to stop at XX3, then they should make an XX4, but it should be a fusion of all the Jordans (I-XX3) or something to make a great finale.
and make more retros. especially of the Air Jordan V. Thats my favorite shoe
I don't care whether they stop at 23 or not. I am a 12 year old and own at least 11 pairs of Jordans. I stopped liking jordans from retro 18+. I just wanna buy retro jordan when I am fully grown. All the big funds and stuff like that are horrible.
i respect everybody and what they think but jordan should stop at 45 because remember everybody buys retros and upcoming shoes no one really buy team jordans or jordans designed buy melo,ray allen or richard hamiltons shoes and other players,jordan wont stop because the more he continues to make his own shoes his legacy grows even though he dosent play anymore but also its all about the money and we all know its not goin to stop til The number 45 cause it was the final number he used before retitring again.If you want to say something about my comment message me at myspace.com/edsonp or add me and send me a comment about what you think.
stop at 23 the new jordans really have not been up to par for jordans name or even to make me spend 200 on them at all retro is the way to go the ps the worst thing yall ever did was make double packs instead of single pair of retros bad business decision
You're not dead yet!
my motto is "you retire when you die"
if you're doing wat you love…
I got my opinion. Stop at 23, but as others said, keep making original shoes, but with different names. Anything over 23 would be dumb in my opnion.
But yes, more signature shoes, something different, unique, haven't made yet? Y'all are bound to have more kick *** ideas.
Also, I would love another combo Jordan, like the Dub Zeros, or the Spiz'ikes. Maybe with some different Jordans though. 7's and 13's maybe??
Also I'd love more SE's and PE's. That would be sweet.
Maybe more NEW colorways, like the whole Orange/White colorways y'all have had released lately.
Keep the Fusions going. I'd love to see how some Air Force Jordan 7's would look.
Anyways, any of those things would be Amazing.
nike gotta bring back da og jordans…stop wit da retro's……i will pay top $$ for those..=}
Yo I think I speak on behalf of the whole sneakerhead community when I say we want black/light graphite-bordeaux VII's…..I was two years old when they dropped…we've waited long enough soooo RETRO them!!!!!!!!!!!