Michael Jordan Brand Shoes: Nike's Jordan Brand revealed the latest iteration of its classic sneaker, the Air Jordans, in New York City on Thursday. The Air Jordan XX9 pairs a new woven upper with an updated, load-bearing Flight Plate in an effort to maximize performance.
Air Jordan XX9 featured two revolutionary technologies: "an evolved Flight Plate coupled with the first-ever performance-woven upper. This design creates a shoe that feels and plays as if it were tailored specifically to each athlete's foot," as stated in Nike Inc. website.
According to Fox Sports, Nike calls XX9 "the world's first basketball shoe to be tailored for flight."
"The goal is for these shoes to fit like a glove and to feel like you're wearing nothing at all," designer Tinker Hatfield said.
NBA says that during the shoe's launch, Michael Jordan compared the XX9 to a Ferrari, and Jordan Brand said that the sneakers' "woven" design draws inspiration from Italy.
"The Jordan design team created an upper that provides structure, support, interior comfort and exterior abrasion resistance. Using state-of-the-art weaving machines, the team learned they could provide all four major elements of the shoe in a single layer of material.
The performance-woven upper delivers superior abrasion resistance, along with an entirely new look on the outside of the shoe. The structure and fit of the shoe are engineered through Flight Web tunnels, and strategic panels of stiffer and softer flex to enhance natural motion. The absence of numerous layers and adhesion technologies creates an incredibly comfortable, sock-like interior lining with superior breathability. Using webbed straps that wrap the foot and integrate with the laces, the Flight Web fit system offers superior mid-foot lockdown that moves with the athlete. Woven channels in the upper enhance the Flight Web fit system, while a double-lasted heel helps dampen the impact on hard landings. Articulated padding in the collar adds to the premium, signature feel of the shoe and helps prevent the heel from slipping," the Bobcats owner said.
"Harnessing the energy of every step for explosive liftoff and optimal energy return, the evolved Flight Plate maximizes the responsiveness of the Nike Zoom Air units in the forefoot and heel through the use of a Pebax moderator plate. The plate provides managed compression and deflection of the Nike Zoom Air cushioning units, creating a larger sweet spot for optimal performance. In this year's shoe, the forefoot and heel are linked by a tendril - a small bridge of outsole - providing a smoother heel-to-toe transition," he added describing the Flight Plate.
According to NBA, two colorways were unveiled this week: one in black and red and the other in black and orange. The shoe will be worn by Thunder guard Russell Westbrook during the upcoming 2014 playoffs and will go on sale in September, to coincide with the beginning of the 2014-15 basketball calendar. The Air Jordan XX9 will sell for $225.
