Jul 21, 2016 The Unlikely Inspiration Behind MJ's Latest Sneaker Tate Kuerbis, the designer of the Air Jordan 31s—officially unveiled at a launch event at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas on Wednesday—remembers meeting Michael Jordan as part of the 18-month process in putting together the shoe’s design. Sitting in Jordan’s LaFerrari (because of course), Kuerbis was taken aback by the comfort of the seat. It struck a chord, and he knew immediately he wanted to design a shoe that would feel just the same. When he discussed the concept with Jordan, the message was clear: a simple shoe that was futuristic in performance with a sleek sense of style. Whether the latest edition in the Air Jordan line has accomplished that will be up to the consumer, as the 31s will be officially released on September 3rd. On the the shoe, there's a full-length Zoom Air unit to deliver a responsive, lightweight cushioning with a low-profile feel. It also features bouncy Flightspeed tech for an explosive step, Flywire that locks in the fit of the shoe to provide lateral support, and a herringbone pattern at the bottom for traction. As for the design? The Jordan Brand—which has built on a foundation of the Air Jordan legacy—is explicit with its intentions of evoking nostalgia for their latest release. The 31s are also the first pair of Jordans since the 1s to feature both the Jumpman and the Nike swoosh logo, a suggestion that came from Jordan himself, according to Kuerbis, who was skeptical when he first heard the idea. But once the concept played out, “it made a lot of sense,” he said. In that way, the 31s represent a new beginning, but also a callback to the very first shoe in its line. In a short video documentary to introduce the 31s at the launch event, the history of the Air Jordan 1s was laid out in full detail. As any self-respecting sneakerhead knows, the red and black Air Jordan 1s were once banned by the NBA for violating the league’s uniformity rules, which required every player to wear shoes that not only matched both the team uniform, but also the shoes worn by their teammates. Jordan was fined $5,000 for each game he wore the 1s, but seizing upon a great promotional opportunity, Nike agreed to pay the fine every time. (Hence, the BANNED at the bottom of the 31s.) The design of the latest Js pay homage to the shoe that many believe started the entire sneaker culture in the first place: the synthetic leather in the heel of the 31s is a callback, while the transition to the lightweight Flyweave in the forefoot signals a move forward. Connecting the past and present requires a passing of the baton of sorts. If the 1s represented a rebellion against the system, the 31s need another insurgent. In that way, it made sense for Russell Westbrook to represent the 31s. Westbrook, who made a cameo at the launch event, says he was elated about taking the court next season in his own customized colorways of the 31s next season (Lakers fans: you can go ahead and create the purple and gold 31s if you are so eager), and spoke to the shoe’s performance and style. “He epitomizes what we want in terms of this shoe,” Jordan said. “Thirty years ago, that was me.” Speaking with a handful of media members after the launch, vice president of Jordan footwear Yuron White pushed back against the idea that the brand was merely stuck in reminiscing about its classics. “There are a lot of fun times ahead,” White said. “It goes back to the video presentation and really for us it all relates to Michael. What we want to do is be an inspiration to kids, to give them the feeling that we all felt when we opened the box and played the game.” White wouldn’t divulge specifics, but promised that the 32s and 33s would push the brand into a new direction. On the performance side, the Air Jordans have continued to evolve. But in a marketplace where design is just as heavily weighed in the evaluation of any sneaker release, does the Jordan Brand really need to defend itself about going back to the well and tapping into what’s worked for them? Does Team Jordan really need to pull aForce Awakens in a hoops shoe landscape full of Boosts and Currys? “It’s important for people to understand their history to get to where they want to be in the future,” White explained. “We’re not going to always rely on looking in the rearview mirror. This was a cool moment in time for us because of the symbolic 1 to 31. That doesn’t mean we’re going to continue on that path. One of the things in recognizing our history, we started as a basketball brand, but it is truly about understanding where we’re going to take the consumer. The basketball kid is looking for us to lead the way.” http://www.gq.com/story/air-jordan-31-release-photos-inspiration Not really feelin that high a--- collar. Rest of the shoe is dope though, I love the sole.
Oct 15, 2016 ayo bit off topic but does anyone know where I can buy fake red october yeezys (in Australia, like online or w/e tho)? like i'm talking proper fake made-in-chinese-hut, not some $3 grand replicas