Air Jordan XX3

About

The Air Jordan XX3, also known as the Air Jordan 23, is Michael Jordan's 23rd signature basketball shoe, released by Jordan Brand in 2008 to mark 23 years since his original 1985 signature shoe. It was designed by Tinker Hatfield, Nike's Vice President of Innovation Design and Special Projects, working with Mark Smith and input from Michael Jordan. The shoe launched in three phases: a limited exclusive release on January 25, 2008 for $230, an NBA All-Star Weekend release on February 16, 2008, and a nationwide launch on February 23, 2008, both at $185. The XX3 was the first basketball shoe built under Nike's "Considered" design ethos, reducing waste and toxic solvent-based cements in favor of environmentally preferred materials and recycled Nike Grind rubber. Construction included a hand-stitched upper produced on a patent-pending stitching machine, a full-length bootie, a carbon fiber and acrylic midfoot shank, full-length Zoom Air cushioning, and an Independent Podular Suspension (IPS) outsole, the last Air Jordan with interchangeable IPS pillars. Michael Jordan's fingerprint forms the outsole traction pattern, with his thumbprint on the tongue lining. It released in nine mid-top colorways and two low-top colorways.