DESIGN INSPIRATION FOR THE JORDAN 12

Tinker Hatfield took inspiration from the Japanese Rising Sun flag, with its bold, red rising sun surrounded by solid white and red (this can be seen with the stitching on the upper). That image went into Hatfield’s mind, meshed somehow with more inspiration taken from 19th century women’s dress boots, and came out as the Air Jordan 12.

JORDAN 12 ON FEET

The design also took into account some Nike technology that hadn’t been used on Jordan Shoes before, like a Zoom Air unit. It also had carbon fiber shank plate. The 12 was also the first to be released exclusively under the Jordan brand. There wasn’t a Nike swoosh on these anywhere, not even the insoles. The shoes had a sturdy, boot-like look and feel. They are probably the most durable sneakers in the Air Jordan line to date.

As if these shoes weren’t already iconic enough, Jordan wore the 12s for one of the most memorable moments in his basketball career.

These are the “flu game” shoes. The Air Jordan 12s were on Jordan’s feet when the Bulls dropped the Jazz on his three-pointer in the final seconds of Game 5 in the 1997 NBA Finals.

Jordan put up 38 points in that game. He was so weak after that Scottie Pippen had to help him off the floor. The Bulls went on to win their second straight title, Jordan’s fifth, and it became the stuff of NBA legend.

The Air Jordan 12 Retro 'Gym Red' emerges with a Chicago Bulls mix of hues.

 Built with tumbled leather, the shoe's upper appears in Gym Red, with a metallic finish on the tonal eyelets. A white basketball-textured mudguard contrasts the look while supporting the fit, with black on the inner lining and heel pull-loop. Underfoot, full-length Zoom Air in the phylon midsole provides cushioning, giving way to herringbone pods on the rubber outsole for traction.