Jordan Brand unveiled the new Air Jordan 32 on Tuesday and it is bold. The 32nd edition of Michael Jordan’s signature sneaker will release first in the “Rosso Corsa” colorway on Sept. 23, and then followed by “Bred” versions of the regular mid ($185) and Low ($160) silhouette on Oct. 18. The Air Jordan XXXII has Flyknit breakthrough uppers and is said to be the most flexible Air Jordans of all-time.
While the Air Jordan II’s luxury leathers, textures and shaping most evidently express craft, what’s underfoot best explains the shoe’s true place in the Jordan evolution. At the time, the sole unit, which relies on a direct-injection PU, required Italian ingenuity — and subsequently brought NIKE, Inc. a step forward in footwear design and engineering. Similarly, the Air Jordan XXXII benefits from a deep Nike mastery in proprietary knits for the first-of-its-kind Flyknit upper with high-tenacity yarn.
The sneaker was designed by Tate Kuerbis, who also designed the Jordan 18, Jordan 19, and Jordan 31. “With Jordan shoes, we obsess the style in a way that puts many of the performance elements under the hood, so to speak,” said Kuerbis. “For example, I wanted to make the laces just disappear into the knit structure, but inside there is a whole harness system with webbing that really locks down your foot.”
The shoes, which were introduced in Turin, Italy, have an Italian influence and were even made in Italy from premium materials. The red-suede colorway is a nod to the Italian roots of the Air Jordan 2 and features the word “Bellissimo” on a tag inside the tongue. It has a certain Ferrari-feel to it all, maybe the heel was inspired by the Ferrari Testarossa.
The Air Jordan 32 will be worn by Jordan Brand athlete Russell Westbrook. “The XXXII is a great combination of performance and style,” Russell Westbrook said in a press release. “The way I play demands that I have the best performing sneaker on my feet and style is something that is engrained in me as a person and player.”
[SLAM]