Jordan first wore the new model in the summer of 1986, filming a Nike commercial produced by Wieden+Kennedy. In the ad, Jordan glides through the air in slow motion performing his “rock-a-baby” dunk, after which the narrator says coolly, “Air Jordan: it’s all in the imagination.” The first time Jordan wore the Air Jordan 2 in public was a player edition in UNC colors at the North Carolina alumni game on September 6, 1986 to dedicate the Tar Heels' Dean E. There was an extended polyurethane heel counter for improved stability during cutting maneuvers. Finally, the Air unit in the heel and polyurethane midsole provided maximum cushioning. The speed lacing system offered quick and even fit adjustment.

A low-cut version of the prototype was actually produced and worn by Bulls cheerleaders, but the final silhouette worn by Jordan was something a little classier.Īside from the faux iguana skin and quality leather upper, the Air Jordan 2 boasted plenty of other top-of-the-line features. Moore and Kilgore also tinkered with a prototype that looked quite different from the final Air Jordan 2 model that came out. To match the success of the Air Jordan 1 would be almost impossible.īefore the Air Jordan 2, they experimented with adding the new Air Jordan 2 sole to the upper of the 1, a hybrid Jordan wore upon his return from injury in 1985-86. The two men responsible for the Air Jordan 2's look were Air Jordan 1 mastermind Peter Moore and Air Force 1 designer Bruce Kilgore. Adding to the exclusivity was the fact the Air Jordan 2 was made in Italy and limited to only 30 stores in 19 metropolitan areas for the first two months of its release.

The upper also boasted faux iguana skin for added elegance. The Air Jordan 2 featured a premium leather upper for superior support and comfort with no break-in required. Nike’s strategy was to create the most exclusive sneaker with the highest quality materials. The price tag, meanwhile, jumped from the Air Jordan 1's reasonable $65 to an eye-popping $100. The clean, primarily white model was stripped of the traditional Nike logo in favor of just the Jordan Wings. Of course, this Air Jordan looked much different from the first model - and the main question on everyone's lips was, “Where's the Swoosh?”

These are the sorts of things Nike said about Michael Jordan’s second signature sneaker when it hit retail shelves in November 1986. “A sneaker that would look great with a tux.” This time, he covers the history of the Air Jordan 2. Drew Hammell, aka takes us through the true stories behind Nike’s Jordan Brand and its catalog of seminal silhouettes.

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