Not so many professional athletes can achieve the same level of success achieved by Michael Jordan.
Following his entrance into the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1984 as a neophyte, his extra power and ability in basketball became evident and unstoppable, turning himself as top scorer and multi-time sports champion.
As an accomplished professional basketball player, Jordan earned six championships, ten scoring titles, and five MVP awards. It turned himself into NBA’s highest-paid player in just two of his 15 NBA seasons. He also earned a lot after buying a majority share of the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) in 2010.
In 2015, Jordan also made a name for himself as one of Forbes’ list of the world’s billionaires.
Interestingly, Jordan’s success in basketball also paved the way for him to be an icon in terms of commercial aspects, whether it is about a movie, an ad, merchandizes, or products.
As years went by, Jordan struck a deal with the famous shoe brand Nike. The collaboration resulted in the creation of the Air Jordan shoe in 1985.
The deal was a success; by the end of the year, the shoe line had earned over $100 million in revenue.
Jordan originally designed the shoe line, and it was first released exclusively for Jordan. Later, Air Jordan was released to the public and became a worldwide famous shoe brand.
Since the start of its production line, Air Jordan has also evolved. Different types of athletes now use it. At present, the Jordan’s shoe brand is connected with 21 active NBA players, who continue to endorse the brand to the public.
The shoe brand also sponsored and supported other types of sports.
According to Tim Ott, who has written for Biography and other A+E sites since 2012, Jordan has made more money through his Nike partnership.
“His aforementioned relationship with Nike has proven the most profitable — in 2020, it was revealed that Jordan has made more than one billion dollars from Nike,” wrote Ott in Biography.
What made Air Jordan so famous worldwide?
People were intrigued by how Air Jordan became so widely popular. Many wondered whether the popularity is due to brand recognition as it is tied to Michael Jordan’s fame or perhaps, due to the quality of the shoe material. The answer, however, is it could be both. Here are the reasons why.
1. Air Jordan offers ‘exclusivity’
Wearing Air Jordan somehow offers a kind of exclusivity symbol as not many wear the said type of shoe brand.
Having a pair of Air Jordan brings an incomparable feeling to the users. Many believed that it was a privilege on their part to wear the shows as it carries the status symbol due to their immense popularity among the masses.
For them, the Air Jordan is not just a shoe but a manifestation of excellence on the basketball field, similar to Michael Jordan. Aside from the commercial value, many shoe users look at the connection of the shoe brand to the designer himself, popularizing the saying “be like Mike.”
2. Air Jordan is made with high-quality material
Air Jordan’s users looked at the shoe brand’s superb materials as an advantage. The use of premium leather and full-grain calfskin brings durability to the brand.
The wide range of styles and colors also enticed the buyers to pick the product.
3. Air Jordan brings influence on popular culture
Air Jordan is a top choice among sneaker lovers because it is a globally-recognized brand.
Many famous athletes, celebrities, actors, and entertainers wear the shoe brand, making everyone own the same footwear.
The value and desirability of the brand increase as people purchase the product due to its popularity.
Since its inception, Air Jordan has continued dominating the footwear industry. Many looked at it as a type of shoe they needed to collect, paving the way for a sneaker culture, among others.
4. Air Jordan offers a unique style
While users find various reasons why they picked Air Jordan among other shoe brands, one thing they could agree on together about the shoe: its style.
Air Jordan offers a unique style to the users. More, it provides quality and performance to them. The extra support and comfort given by the shoe to the users are some of the reasons why they love to wear and promote the product to others. The high-cushion level available in Air Jordan helped users from regular foot pains, such as plantar or heel spurs.
Air Jordan today
The great value offered by Air Jordan, despite its relatively minimal price tag, continues to set the footwear brand aside from other sneakers. Many users looked at the excellent performance provided y the shoes to them compared to other lesser quality shoe brands in the market today.
In 2020, the public also saw the releases of the Air Jordan 4 Fire Red, the Off-White x Air Jordan 5 Muslin, Air Jordan 5 Fire Red, and the Dior x Air Jordan 1 High.
The Last Dance documentary, which featured the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls NBA Championship run, paved the way for the spike in demand for Jordans, specifically those highlighted in the movie like the Air Jordan 5 Fire Red.
In 2021, the Air Jordan shoe brand also caused hype with the announcement of the releases of Air Jordan 1 Hyper Royal, Air Jordan 6 Carmine, Air Jordan 5 Raging Bull 2021, Air Jordan 4 White Oreo, and the Air Jordan 1 University Blue.
Additionally, the Jordan 5 Raging Bull was a tribute to the Chicago Bulls with red shoelaces and high-end suede upper. The shoe style highlighted a 3M silver reflective tongue.
Despite its solid fanbase, the Air Jordan brand continues to attract new and young athletes. In the sneaker category, the Jordan shoe has remained a famous brand. Air Jordan keeps on raking revenues due to its constant innovation and evolution, tapping new foreign markets and players everywhere as years go by.