Jordan Brand and Michael Jordan Officially Unveil the Air Jordan 2009 Detailed Look and Breakdown
Jan 08, 2009 | Comments 50
In front of a packed house of media from around the world, Jordan Brand and Michael Jordan officially unveiled the Air Jordan 2009 today in New York City. According to Michael Jordan himself, the Air Jordan 2009 is a new beginning, a new legacy. He felt that naming the sneaker the Air Jordan XX4 would have diminished the value of the number 23 and the Air Jordan XX3.
The Air Jordan 2009 was designd by Jason Mayden and is inspired by Defense and the Martial Art of Fencing. The look and technology found in the Air Jordan 2009 are based on the quick moves, quick attacks, and quick defense found both in Fencing and in Basketball.
Much More After the Jump
In designing the Air Jordan 2009, Jordan Brand designer Jason Mayden used the sport of Fencing as the inspiration and philosophy for the shoes overall design. Both Michael Jordan and Jason Mayden agree that the art of Fencing can be compared to the battle on the court where both athlete require quick moves, quick attacks and quick defense. With that in mind, much of the sneaker takes inspiration from the uniforms of Fencing athletes and the technology is inspired by both the art of fencing and basketball.
The all new AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe is born from the inspiration of Michael Jordan's unstoppable will. When Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, he was driven to practice harder and longer and earned a spot on an All-American Team his senior year. When critics scoffed at his return from retirement in 1995, Jordan quieted his opponents by leading the Bulls to their second Championship three-peat. Jordan does not back down from challenges -- he rises.
Pioneered from this philosophy, AIR JORDAN returns and presents the world with the answer to the Jordan Brand's challenge of creating the most original basketball shoe on the planet. The AIR JORDAN 2009 honors the franchise's tradition of innovation through its cutting-edge technology features. The shoe introduces Articulated Propulsion Technology (APT), a revolutionary heel system inspired by the carbon fiber prosthetics used by Paralympians and developed to allow an explosive forward movement. The heel is also split, which ensures superior responsiveness by keeping at least one half of the heel in contact with the ground at all times.
The polished design of the AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe complements its performance elements and overall engineering. The design technique of blown glass inspired the TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane) chassis on the outsole. Using this method, each shoe is individually unique and guarantees the ultimate limited edition experience: a one-of-one collection. In addition, the AIR JORDAN 2009 flaunts polishable panache leather on the upper, a nod to the franchise's trademark elegance. The AIR JORDAN 2009 continues Jordan Brand's forward-thinking respect for the environment with the launch of its second Considered Design shoe. Designed under the Considered Design ethos of combining sustainability with performance and innovation, the shoe seeks to reduce waste and allow for the use of environmentally-preferred materials -- without compromising athletic performance. The Considered Design ethos is one of several company-wide corporate responsibility targets that NIKE, Inc. has implemented to sustain long-term growth and innovation.
Air Jordan 2009 Technical Details
Upper
• Overall design contours the foot and allows for superior responsiveness, quick reaction time and maximum support.
• Pleating on the satin upper reinforces the durable construction and molds to the foot for a secure lockdown.
• Foam inserts in the heel provide further lockdown by hugging the Achilles tendon.
• Injected dot grip on the outer heel makes pulling on the shoe easy and effortless.
• Moisture-wicking, breathable liner ensures comfort and stability.
Midsole/Outsole
• Heel employs cutting-edge Articulated Propulsion Technology (APT) that allows the athlete to explosively and quickly propel forward.
• Split in heel ensures outstanding responsiveness by allowing one side of the heel to react to lateral movement while the opposite side maintains contact with the ground.
• Carbon fiber plate in the arch provides support and compliments the heel's performance enhancing design.
• TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane) chassis offers additional structural support.
• Articulated forefoot Zoom Air unit cushions foot to maximize comfort.
• Outsole grooves flex naturally with the grooves of the foot for exceptional traction.
• Multi-directional herringbone patterns grip the court for optimal movement.
Air Jordan 2009 Design Features
• Blown-glass-inspired TPU chassis is unique in every shoe, creating a one-of-one limited edition collection.
• Polishable panache leather and white satin pleating on upper nod to Michael Jordan's ability to be both a gentleman and a fierce on-court competitor.
• Strategically placed stitching reinforces construction while offering high-end European-style aesthetic.
• Stitching on upper is sewn in two rows and three rows to represent #23.
• Metal mesh implies the sport of fencing, known for its exceptional defensive element.
• Heel detail references Michael Jordan's statue in front of the Chicago Bulls' United Center: The left shoe reads "Greatest there ever was," and the right, "Greatest there ever will be."
A special limited edition of the AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe will launch on January 31, 2009, with a suggested retail price of $230. The AIR JORDAN 2009 will then launch nationwide on February 14, 2009, with a suggested retail price of $190
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Filed Under: Daily Run • Sneaker News
I can respect the new direction, but that it. Not impressed
Trash... Jordan brand is dead. Only thing keeping it alive are his retros .
I'm glad that they're sticking to the "Considered Design ethos." Saving the world, one Jordan shoe at a time.
i think it's a great transition into a new realm for JB. if you saw MJ on the court in the finals with a blk/red version of these --- how could you deny them? if we put up with the other designs, these aren't half bad as compared to others in the past.
the weird thing to me is how it kinda looks like it has a heel, like girls shoes. haha
"Trash" and "JB is dead" Hmmm, sounds oddly reminiscent of when the XX3's first surfaced online.
so what cushioning is in the heel? also need to see more colorways for this.
sounds reminiscent of when the catalog drawings of the xx3 showed up online.
once the real shoe was shown a lot of people were impressed.
Still we can expect much here. no Tinker no mark smith no 600 person effort and crazy 18 month initiative to honor the man with an amazing shoe.
just good ol Jayson Mayden again right back to the XVIII to XX2 era type jordans.
Nothing special, but decent. I would be intresteted for half the price and if they produce enough pairs that it discounts like the shoes before the XX3 i'll try them out.
oh baby, yeah! im coppin these!!! F all you Haters
$190?
are you kidding me
i mean they are alright but for that price no way
thats crazy for this shoe i was expecting 125 at the highest
No.
****. 190? i'd like this to be a joke, but i know it's not. i thought the xx3s were $$$ this is just outright pocket-rape.
IM COPPIN; WHY ISNT THERE A 23 ON THEM; IF IT IS SOMEONE SHOW ME
BORN2WIN; WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN JORDANS HAVEN'T BEEN UNDER 150 SINCE THE 13S
I JUST READ THE 23 PART WITH THE STITCHIN; THATS ***
Look too much like the Melos. HATE that they look like they have heels! They need to be lower to the ground. Also look like cleats, without the spikes.
umm really these shoes are much as looks jb was going into performance and quailty of the shoe. he trying to make the shoe better for playin ball not to rock em.maybe so time later on thier will be a p.e version that would look betta so next time dont just think about the looks think about wat hes aiming for.
articulated propulsion technology? hmmm... i've been a jordan fan for years but i'm not too sure about this. from it's description, it kinda sounds a lot like the same principle behind l.a gear's catapult system back in the 90's or maybe even close to nike's own shox... and also from it's description, there doesn't seem to be any heel cushioning apart from apt. not even a zoom pad. what it does have is forefoot zoom. from a design standpoint, the heel really reminds me of something and1 came up with ages ago when kg was still endorsing them... and the blah-blah about the blown-glass inspired chassis making each shoe one-off and unique? well it sounds like a marketing hype to give justification for what i feel is it's overly high price point.
would i buy it? i don't know. i'll most likely wait for someone to do a shoe review on it first then decide.
i am not sure of that heel looks very odd. loved the xx3..not sure of the air jordan 2009 aka xx4 especially at a 190 price tag..the all black look decent but as i said..not sure and the xx3 were sick..i have 3 colorways of that model!
buying melos for 130 is hard... 190?? uv got to be kidding me????
the high heal looks odd and very unstable. adding a visible jordan logo also wouldve been nice. I never warmed up to the past 4-5 jordans. even the 23's never grew on me. I commend the bold ideas but at some point it goes too far..not to mention the $190 price point. Going beyond his playing years, I think his "pro model" is losing the mystique.
I'm NOT copping
Baaaaaaaaaaaasuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuraaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Nope. Just ballin shoes.
THOse R sick Niggas Stop Hatin there New Jays b happy I knew this was the end of the Jordan Brand just like ya boi sayed if u see mj in the finals with a red/black colorway u would be soo on them so i say give the shoe time new colorways will come and u hater will soon see that u gonna want them on ya feet meber how folks wasent feelin the 23's at first ether
Ya dig
s.dot
This is a **** idea. For real, Is this where energy should be focused. Lets put more money in Mike and Phill's pocket.... Out...
Compare to other jordans like the 14,15,16,17,19,20...except the 23 they are NICE!!! I like the desing not the colorway..I have to see pick on black/varsity red and stealth color way... 50/50 i would coop...I'm a Retro Head butyou have to Move on with JB...
aint feeling these. jumpman brand i know you have more talent than this!!! looks like an AND1 shoe to me these sucks.
hard to follow up the 23, and this is playing it to safe... and the on top of the plain make up there is an increase in price.. would have been great opp to reduce Price..
I don't know. Kinda on the fence. Have to see them in person. $190 bills though is a little steep for these.
Someone will buy them though. Just because they are Jordans.
It almost looks over designed if you know what i mean. I think that the fore foot looks all wrong and not sold on the heel either...but have to wait and see the other colourways. Pricey too!
a XX and XXII rip off
LET'S WAIT FOR THE BRED COLORWAY BEFORE WE RUSH TO JUDGEMENT FOLKS.
SOME OF YOU SHOULD TAKE THAT $190 AND SPEND IT ON A GRAMMAR AND SPELLING CLASS!!!!!! WOW.
Hey LIONHRT, LMAO!!!
for $190.00, hmm that's too much.
2008 was an expensive yr for me... CDPs and XX3s, and now this?
I need to see the black ones in person, but I am gonna keep my word when I said I was gonna take a break after the 11/12 pack. These aren't $190.00...
I see complaints about how the heel looks, the price, and the technological names Nike has given the material used in the above comments. Sounds like a bunch of complainers to me. I would really like to see you sit down and design something better using state of the art material and do something thats never been done before.
The price is steep yes but I think what we are paying for is the technology used in the shoe. Material and workmanship comes with a pretty penny.
Once I see them in person and actually hold them, we'll be able to make a better judgement call.
And if I happen to try them on and notice they're the most comfortable, light weight and structurally sound shoe Jordan Brand has ever made -- THEN I'll be convinced and buy a pair. Very similar to the Jordan 14s in shape/style right?
Different colorways will be intriguing!
all you guys know that the price of his shoes are going to go up, you think $190 is alot wait till next year it will probably be around over $200. now that just to much for shoes i don't care if it's jordans! but i know people out there are going to buy them. now days jordan brand are going to target the young kids that want to sport jordans and those kids will be buying it. he should just keep the retro's going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To all the fake Jordan heads who said they ain't feeling this pair, get out of here. PLEASE. I bet most of you guys just copped your first pair this year and think your a shoehead. You guys do not understand the articulation and sophistication that the Jordan Brand is jumping into. Don't compare buying these to any other shoe. Honestly,I like the shoe. You guys be saying, "I don't see the zoooooom or the logo." Umm, i don't think you guys designed the shoe, and jordan brand put lots of tech and effort to this. Respect the jordan brand. $190 is not that bad. Stay intelligent kids.
after the xx3 and the 11 and 12's pack that's it for me no more jordan's not hating on anyone but where jordan is going and the price, thanks MJ!!! hope to see some retro's in 09.
all this hype .....it's just a bloody shoe.......
***
***-tastic.
Everyone hating on these is going to end up getting a pair. Bunch of fake people in here, ridiculous.
it's so annoying yet funny whenever you get the "true jordan head" or "hater" comment. whenever retros or the newer aj's drop, someone's always in jordan cult mode trying to be a hero.
yea i mean i didtnt mind the 23's but i dont think i would ever go out of my way to nab a pair over a retro release. this looks liek a god idea, and truley a basketall shoe.
btw, sombody tel me if they agree, but if u werent a sneaker head, tell me theese wouldnt look like all white 23's to you, i mean the first say 15 jordans were all unique.....theese not so much
wow, i just looked at the all the comments, and the price it the bigest issue to u guys. i just think its funny when were all still gonna get them and throw them on the shelf if u dont like them. we dont know what there gonna be throwing at us. the 17s were super expensive, but they came with like a shoebag, dvd, sandals, and a giant bulletproof case.
To everyone commenting on any recently released shoe. Realize that the whole retro craze has been mixed with the hype of having THE ORIGINAL MODEL THAT WAS THE FIRST, NOT THE RETRO. If you concider yourself to be a honest SneakerHead you will realize that Nike and Brand Jordan are not going anywhere and that 20 years down the line you will wish that you paid for the original at what will be a cheaper price that what the shoe will cost in 20 years. Stop being quick to judge and think about the REALITY of the situation!
that shoes r so UGLY but what happen nobody had brain on those shoes or somebody was drunk?
This brand needs a reinvention like shaq needs freethrow advice. There is nothin innovative about this shoe to make it a head turner or an industry first. Should have made the collection only go up to 5 (2+3=5).
Only like the midsole and the inner ankle support. Everything else seems to "off." As petty as it may sound/seem, those flat laces don't go with this shoe at all.