Elevate Your Basketball Style with the Jordan 21 Black
A year after the intensely retrospective, twentieth-anniversary model that paid homage to the brand’s inspiration and history, Jordan released a new Air Jordan with a distinctly forward-looking attitude. The game was now in the hands of young people who didn’t grow up watching MJ play. For them, Jordan was an icon of history, rather than a current cultural touchstone. It was time to create a new generation of Jordans for a new generation of players.
AJ 21 Design and Features
Jordan Brand entrusted the vision for a new generation of sneakers to D’Wayne Edwards, a self-made footwear designer who got his start just out of high school. With no formal training, he got noticed when he started dropping sketches in the suggestion box at LA Gear, where he worked filing papers. Years later, he had moved up to a high-level design position at Nike and Jordan. The 21 was the first Jordan for which he was the lead designer.
Edwards was initially known for the futuristic look of his designs. Despite that, his first Jordan stripped the shoe down to basics with a classic, visually minimal design that recalled the brand’s roots while still incorporating the high-level tech that Jordan is known for.
At first sight, the Air Jordan 21 screams luxury. Rendered in full-grain Italian leather or rich Italian suede, the upper draws on the lines of the Bentley Continental GT Coupe. The luxury car inspiration continues in the mesh midsole panels that imitate the car’s grill. Finally, metal detailing completes the sports car tribute on this stylishly understated, premium interpretation of the basketball sneaker.
However, the Jordan 21’s sleek, minimalist façade held a “dark” secret (literally). When viewed under a black light, text appeared printed on the leather. In some colorways, this text was placed on the inside ankle window and on others, it was on the inside of the tongue. A code that could be found on the Jordan website at the time indicated certain letters from the text, which, when re-arranged, spelled out the word “authentic” and helped reduce counterfeits and fakes.
Jordan 21 Black
The Jordan 21 Black shoes are inspired by the elegance and performance of a luxury sports car. The sculpted uppers mirror a car's aerodynamic contours, while the metallic accents resemble automotive trim. In the midsole, mesh accents match the Bentley Continental grille pattern. The Air Jordan 21 Black colorway features black suede uppers with bright red accents on the midsole and eyelets. Michael Jordan's number "23" rises from the lateral ankle, and a white "Jumpman" logo adds contrast to the tongue. The elevated Jordan 21 black suede design also comes with performance features, including integrated vents and IPS heel cushioning. For midfoot stability and support, Nike added a shank plate made from carbon fiber. The collar angles steeply from back to front, allowing a full range of motion as you play.
Jordans Release Dates, News and Articles
Attention all sneakerheads and basketball fans! Read all about the oldest and latest Jordan releases on the eBay Sneaker Hub. From iconic retro styles to new collaborations, you'll find everything you need to know to complete your Jordan collection.