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When it comes to original colorways of the Air Jordan line, collectors love when Jordans say Nike Air on them! Seen on the tongue of the Air Jordan 1 and the back of the 3, 4, 5 and 6, the logo would eventually be replaced by the Jumpman in retros and new colorways.
Which Jordans Say Nike Air
The “Nike Air” logo is shown prominently on original colorways of the Air Jordan 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Later versions would feature a Jumpman instead, however certain retros utilize the Nike Air branding to hearken back to the original releases.
original Nike Air branding while the 2013 Fire Red 3s
on the right show an OG colorway retro’d
with a Jumpman
Shop Air Jordan 3s: eBay
Initially, the Jumpman logo was merely another design feature of the Air Jordan line. It was first used on the tongue of the Air Jordan 3, and helped retain Michael Jordan’s deal with Nike. After all, having the logo front and center on the groundbreaking shoe showed that MJ was going to be the brand’s biggest focus.
However, if the original AJ3 was flipped around to the back, one would still have seen the Nike Air logo. The reason is that Jordan brand did not exist back then; the Air Jordan line was seen as yet another Nike shoe.
Collectors want Nike Air branded retros of original Air Jordan colorways because they most closely represent the original look of the sneakers. The sneakers displayed this branding from 1985-1991.
When Jordan Brand Separated From Nike
Jordan became it’s own brand in 1997. Nike allowed them to operate on their own as a separate entity for the most part, although still technically under the Nike umbrella.
This retro of an OG Pair of Air Jordan 1s
comes complete with the Nike Air branding
on the tongue, just like the original.
Buy Air Jordan 1s: eBay
Although the Air Jordan line of sneakers had already stopped showing Nike Air branding on the outside of the shoes, the insoles still often carried the logo. After Jordan Brand began operating as a “separate” company, this changed to a Jumpman logo.
Even retros of original colorways that had the Nike Air logo for a time bore the Jumpman logo instead. The versions with Nike Air on them that release these days are intended as a throwback. This appeals to those that desire the look of the original pairs down to the slightest detail.
Who Invented The Jumpman Logo
The Jumpman logo was initially designed by Peter Moore, who also designed the Air Jordan 1. The logo was not seen on the Air Jordan line of sneakers until the Air Jordan 3 designed by Tinker Hatfield.
As is covered in this article, Michael Jordan was considering leaving Nike after the second sneaker. However, Tinker Hatfield, designer of the Air Max 1 and Air Trainer 1, convinced MJ to stay.
He was able to do this by designing a shoe that carried out many of the elements that Jordan had wanted in a sneaker. Hatfield added the Jumpman logo to the Air Jordan 3 tongue, putting MJ front and center. Jordan loved the shoe and the partnership was renewed.
The Jumpman Logo Is Actually Jordan
The Jumpman logo is based on a silhouette of Michael Jordan taken from a magazine photoshoot in the mid 80s.
Note the Jumpman logo on the tongue, this
is seen even on the original pairs of the 3.
Before MJ signed with Nike, Life magazine had published a photo ahead of the 1984 Olympics. This photo featured Jordan jumping high into the air with a city skyline in the background.
When the original Air Jordan 1 released, it included a hangtag featuring the image. Inside the hangtag was a diagram containing the sneaker’s specs.
Eventually, the silhoutte of MJ in the image was adapted into a logo. This logo would first be utilized on an actual sneaker with the Air Jordan 3.
What The Jumpman Logo Represents
The Jumpman logo is an official logo of the Air Jordan line of sneakers. It depicts Michael Jordan’s silhouette jumping high into the air.
This retro from 2013 commands a high resale
value, despite having the “non-OG” Jumpman
branding on the tongue tag.
The Air Jordan line has a Wings logo and text logos that say Jordan or Air Jordan. However, the Jumpman logo represents the success, drive and enthusiasm behind Jordan’s career. Therefore it is the “official” logo of the brand. As one of the most iconic athletes of all time, his silhouette as a logo carries a lot of weight and meaning.
Air Jordans featuring Nike Air branding appeal to collectors as a feature of the original releases. However, the Jumpman symbolizes Jordan Brand in general. This includes all that comes along with one of the greatest basketball players in history. The logo is instantly recognizable almost anywhere in the world.
The Jordan Logo Has Fingers
The Jumpman logo indeed has fingers. If the logo is large enough, one can make out 4 fingers.
So Whats The Big Deal With Nike Air Branding On Jordans?
The Nike Air branding on early Air Jordans is a detail important to those that want historically accurate versions of the original sneakers. Retros of original colorways of the Air Jordan 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 that display this logo appeal to those seeking a true representation of the original release.
Jordan Brand was trying to differentiate itself from the rest of Nike’s products in 1997. Thus, it began using the Jumpman logo on every sneaker. This includes retros of original colorways.
So, while collectors liked the idea of retros being exactly like the originals, this conflicted with Jordan Brand finding its own identity. Eventually however, the Air Jordan line would make a move to recapture some of the details that appeal to those that wanted wearable versions of the oldest colorways.
This is why it’s a big deal when Jordan Brand releases retros of OG colorways with the Nike Air logo. On Air Jordan 1s this is seen on the tongue, while on the 3s, 4s, 5s and 6s the back of the sneaker receives the retro branding. At this point, Jordan Brand does not need to have the Jumpman prominently featured on every release for people to see the importance of the line.
If you like the pair of Jordans you have, and it has a Jumpman logo, do not be discouraged. At the end of the day, collecting sneakers comes down to what you like, and plenty of people rock Jumpman-branded OG colorways to this day!