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Everyone will adapt to this shoe, just like they have the other 19.
yeah people adpated by waiting for thr new aj to hit the sales rack. will it only be a matter of time before retailers catch on and stop buying the new aj line, becase ot lackluster sales at retail?
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besides, even if their ugly, their still jordans
i can not count how many times i have heard that, and i think for the most part, it is why jb can take risks these release the shoes they have been.
really there does not seem to be any connection to the previous model xix, which imo was atrocious, nor it with the xviii, that was what was great about jordan shoes in the past the evolution was much clearer, and yet each shoe existed on its own.
here is something i read awhile back in the achive that now really makes sense i wish jb would evolve the brand without wiping the slate clean every year:
------said by Air Elijah----
The I's and II's were designed at a time of rapid change in sneaker technology. As a result there is a significant difference between the products, much like the difference between a model-T Ford and 1940's car. Remember that there were almost two years between the designs as Michael wore the I's in both his rookie and second season.
Tinker Hatfield started on the Jordan line with the III's and again there was a significant technological advance that he helped develop in the midsole area with improved foam material and the visible air unit.
After the III's the technology improved at a much slower rate with the only significant advances between the III's and XVI's really being the dynamic fit/huarache system and the carbon fibre shank plate. Zoom air came along the way but was less significant I would argue.
As far as the design forms go there is quite a clear evolution of the type you are talking about from Hatfield's Air Jordan III through to his Air Jordan VIII design. The VIII's were beginning to depart significantly from this line but IX-XII saw a clear break and movement down another path. An overall theme of this path was clear - clean uppers with a horizontal break along them featuring a smoother lower half and lines on the upper half around the laces. This continued though all four shoes.
It is harder to classify the designs after that into an evolution of an aesthetic. This may be because of a change in design philosophy. It is fairly well known that Tinker's design method changed very much to an "Insiration method' where by each shoe was inspired by another object:
XII's - Ladies high heel boot and Japanese rising sun flag.
XIII - Panthers paw.
XIV's - MJ's Ferrari.
XV's - X-15 experimental plane.
The XII belonged both to the evolutionary path and the inspiration group. This inspiration method of design was obviously more about the aesthetic form of the designs, about the look, more than the actual function of them. Perfomance steadily improved through out both phases (excpet perhaps for the XV's) as improvements continued in materials. There was a break however in the aesthetic evolution from one shoe to the next. Sure the colours and features here and there were inspired by previous shoes but much more so then before each shoe varied greatly from the previous one.
There are obviously many significant differences from one shoe to another. Taking the original idea of this post though I thought I'd write a summary of some of the points of similarity between Tinker Hatfields designs from the III's through the VIII's.
III-IV
- The heel piece with the Nike Air logo is very similar.
- The rear half of the midsole is very similar.
- The piece of the upper that wraps around the front of the toe box.
- The five lace holes at the front of the III's and the two holes at the top become the matching pieces on the bottom and top of the IV's with the choice of width.
- The Jumpman on the similar styled tongue.
- Simliar outsole design with a midfoot section featuring Nike and forefoot section in the centre breaking up the large area.
IV - V
- The piece of the upper that wraps around the front of the toe box.
- The mesh sides and tongue.
- The plastic lace holes with the choice of width.
- The Jumpman on the tongue.
- The overall outsole design - a piece around the front of the toes, a piece around the back of the heel, a mid feature with Nike on it and something in the middle of the forefoot to break up the large area.
- The outrigger on the side of the VI's is the same shape as the 'flame' on the side of the V's.
- Similar piece wrapping around the back of the midsole at the top harking back even to the III's.
V-VI
- Clear rubber outsole with very similar outriggers in teh forefoot.
- The 'flame' above the forefoot outrigger of the V's matches the thin coloured section above the outrigger on the VI's.
- The mesh on the side and tongue of the V's matches the perferated sides and tongue on the VI's.
- The padded ankle area on both.
- Generally similar lines and angles around the laces, angling backwards for a sleek but dynamic look.
- Embroidered Nike Air logo on the heel.
- Remove the piece from around the toe box on the V's and you would have a very similar look to the front.
VI-VII
- Over all 'holes' theme with perforated upper and circular traction pattern.
- Angular outsole design.
- Clean, one piece toe box.
- Overall design of a two layer upper featuring panels formed by overlays along key lines that strengthen in the areas most required.
- Twin peaks forefoot outrigger with lines along the top, the outsole material wrapping up the side even as the V's had. Large rear outrigger designed in a similar fashion.
- Rear pull tab.
- Dynamic fit system with evolution to full bootie in the VII's.
- Triangular protrusion of the front of the tongue over the top of the toe box.
VII-VIII
- Overall design of a two layer upper featuring panels formed by overlays along key lines that strengthen in the areas most required.
- Clean, one piece toe box harking back even to the VI's.
- Triangular protrusion of the front of the tongue over the top of the toe box.
No idea is original...It is never what you do, but how it is done
