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The Air Jordan 12 “Cherry,” a sneaker beloved for Michael Jordan wearing it while winning his fifth NBA title, is set to make its return for the first time in 14 years.
Official images have now surfaced for the shoe, which has been widely reported to release at the end of October. What immediately stands out is just how bright the “Varsity Red” is on the shoe’s lower half — much more so than the retro, or reissue, from 2009. The Air Jordan 12‘s lines also hew closely to those of the original from 1996, which will come as a relief to the Jordan purists.
Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the Air Jordan 12 features fanning leather panels inspired by the Japanese Rising Sun flag. This association was only emphasized further with the “Cherry” colorway, which is one of the five original variants for the model and the one Michael chose to don as him and the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz for their fifth title. Hatfield also looked to women’s shoes as source material, which is why some may see hints of a heel when looking at the sneaker’s profile.
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On the tech front, the AJ12 was the first Jordan to feature Zoom Air technology, which was incorporated with a full-length unit inside the midsole. 1997 was the year Jordan Brand officially branched off from Nike, and thus the Air Jordan 12 was the first in the franchise not to feature a Swoosh anywhere on the shoe. Few things matter to sneakerheads as much as what Michael wore for the biggest moments of his career, though, which is why the Air Jordan 12 “Cherry” is one of the bigger retros from Jordan Brand this year.
The Air Jordan 12 “Cherry” will reportedly release Oct. 28 through the SNKRS app and select retailers. The price is set at $210.
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About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
