Air Jordan XVIII

About

The Air Jordan XVIII arrived in 2003, designed by Tate Kuerbis, a member of Jordan Brand's footwear team since 1999. Kuerbis drew from three distinct references: the carbon fiber monocoque construction of Formula 1 race cars, the fit-specific rubber heel wraps of race car driving shoes, and the bold sole stitching found on fine Italian dress shoes. These three influences produced a low-profile basketball shoe that carried a formal elegance unusual for performance footwear. The XVIII was the last Air Jordan model worn by Michael Jordan during an active NBA season, as Jordan completed his final campaign with the Washington Wizards in 2002-03 before retiring permanently. The Wizards Away colorway directly referenced Jordan's time in Washington. The shoe was re-released in 2008, and subsequent retros have included the Sport Royal colorway in 2018. The AJ XVIII's distinctive lace garage system, which tucks the laces beneath a suede flap, remains one of the silhouette's most recognisable design details.