Jordan 23 Release Date

The original release of Michael Jordan’s 23rd signature shoe took place in 2008. With the efforts of the Jordan brand, Michael Jordan, and Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan 23 came to light. It was the first basketball sneaker from Nike to embrace the Nike Considered Design ethos.

In this endeavor, the development and design of the shoe sought to reduce waste. This ethos allowed the use of environmentally friendly materials without compromising athletic performance. By adopting this corporate responsibility design, the Air Jordan 23 became the most complicated sneaker of its time.

Features of the Air Jordan 23

Every sneaker in the past had a source of inspiration, from a panther for the Air Jordan 13 to jazz music for the Air Jordan 17. The Air Jordan 23 did not have a specific design basis. They followed the shared belief of Hatfield and Jordan that they had to create the best sneaker. Hatfield focused on various aspects like performance and technology to reach the much-needed quality.

Nike spent a lot of time and resources researching and developing the Air Jordan 23. The brand used a special device to paint the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) chassis. The process incorporated an efficient robot arm for maximum quality, durability, and consistency.

High Performance Technology

The Considered Design construction did not stop Hatfield from adding high-performance technology. A critical aspect of the Air Jordan 23 is its exterior, which is made of different materials. Using a newly engineered technique, the brand used a machine to stitch the upper in 3-D form. This upper consisted of large panels of premium leather with embroidered patterns to create the shoe's signature look.

Using a dual-density sock liner, the sneaker offers high comfort. The recovery foam around the heel takes the shape of your foot to create a more custom fit. The dual density keeps your feet supported and padded around the heel. The sneaker also features an internal bootie for extra comfort. Phylon material surrounds the full-length Zoom Air unit. They use a carbon fiber midfoot shank to support the Air unit. The brand applies an advanced Independent Podular Suspension (IPS) system for improved cushioning. The IPS has large pillars in the heel and lower pillars in the forefoot.

Air Jordan 23 Identity and Retro

Unlike most Air Jordan sneakers, the Air Jordan 23 features minimal branding while still paying tribute to Michael Jordan. The sneaker has Jordan’s thumbprint on the inside of the tongue, which also inspired the outsole tread pattern’s design. Jordan's handcrafted signature stitch appears on the toe cap. An exclusive limited Air Jordan 23 release date occurred on January 25, 2008. The general retail launch took place on February 23, 2008.

In 2015, the Air Jordan 23 released another retro called Chicago. This bold sneaker features an all-red upper and black accents as a nod to the Bulls. Unlike other releases that preceded it, this variant featured an all-leather upper. On the heel is a Chi-City branding and gum rubber soles. Other features of this sneaker include a logo-embossed tongue, round toe, and front lace-up fastening features.

Many colorways of the Jordan 23 sneaker can be found on eBay.