Air Jordan sneakers have a rich and storied history that began in 1984 when Michael Jordan signed a deal with Nike. Converse was the official shoe of the NBA at the time, but they couldn't put Jordan above other athletes they sponsored, so he decided against partnering with them. His agent, David Falk, suggested Nike, and after some convincing from his parents, he signed a deal with them. In 1985, the first Nike shoe MJ played in was the Air Ship, which can be seen as having informed the Air Jordan 1's design. The inaugural Jays' black and red colorway went against the league's uniform policy, making them a symbol of rebellion whenever they hit the court and earning MJ a $5000 fine each time.
The Air Jordan line of sneakers has been revolutionary in its own way, pushing the envelope in the areas of design, style, versatility, and technology. Tinker Hatfield's design for the Air Jordan III's convinced MJ to stick with Nike, and soon turned Air Jordans into something bigger than just sneakers. The Jordan III's were the first to feature the Jumpman logo, sleek tumbled leather, and elephant-print trim around the toe and heel. The Air Jordan 4 ushered in a new era for the brand as the first Jay to be launched on the global market, which pushed the designers to go bigger and better than ever. The Air Jordan 4 has since gone on to be one of the most popular sneakers of all time, with collaborations such as the Eminem x Carhartt Air Jordan 4 and UNDEFEATED Air Jordan 4 reaching five-figure prices on the resale market.