“Some icons are meant to fly.”
Releasing today, April 5th in the UK, the all-new movie, ‘Air’, tells the origin story of Nike’s now-legendary partnership with hoops icon, Michael Jordan.
With an all-star cast featuring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans and Viola Davis to name a few, the movie is based on the true events of when Nike signed Michael Jordan to create the renowned Air Jordan silhouette in 1984.
Made For The Courts 🏀
The story starts before Nike was cool, if you can believe that.
When Nike was a struggling sportswear brand in ‘84, Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) was a sports marketer for the Swoosh brand, and he decided he would bet his career on one guy – Michael Jordan. Working with Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Ben Affleck), the film portrays how the pair took on the tough journey of signing MJ, and what a risk it was at the time.
With the idea of building a whole shoe line around the then rookie b-ball player, Nike created the Air Jordan – the greatest basketball shoe ever made.
Designed by Nike legend Peter Moore, the silhouette was released in 1985. It quickly became one of the most hyped sneakers of its time, with sales earning $126 million in one year. Now known as the Air Jordan 1, the trainer still sees a lot of love with loads of new colourways and collabs that continue the Jordan buzz.
The silhouette’s success prompted the introduction of the Jordan Brand in 1997, with new designs along with retro silhouettes that pay tribute to its hoops heritage. Followed up by the likes of the Air Jordan 4, Air Jordan X, Air Jordan XI in fresh colourways and the signature Black and Red ‘Bred’, for example, the Jordan collection just keeps on growing. Some of the most iconic collabs have seen the J’s reimagined by Dior, Travis Scott, Off White and more.
The AJ1 is one of the most recognisable silhouettes of all time, with its high-top collar, a streamlined design and the underfoot Air cushioning for unbeatable comfort. Using Nike’s innovative Air technology was a strong selling point, with a bubble encapsulated under the heel for extra bounce on the courts.
Still iconic today, Nike has been dropping stacks of high-heat sneakers that take cues from the brand’s roots in classic sportswear. So, after watching the movie, it’s only right that you’re gonna need some Swoosh in your life! Lace up in your fave Swoosh styles and check out our full collection of Nike Air trainers online right here.
@warnerbrosuk From director Ben Affleck, watch the trailer for AIR. Exclusively in cinemas April 5. #AIRMovie ♬ AIR Trailer by Warner Bros UK – Warner Bros. UK
