My Favorite Shoe! (+Air Jordan VIII History)

So I decided to make a post dedicated to my favorite Air Jordan sneaker, the VIII(8), and add a lil history to go along with it. If you like them as much as I do, leave me a comment! =]

The Air Jordan VIII was a shoe that released in 1993 and, to this day, looks like a shoe that was released in 1993. The loud patterns, the “carpet logo,” the almost overly technical looking straps – the Air Jordan VIII perfectly captured the essence of the era. Aside from its bold design, the VIII may be most fondly remembered for being on the feet of MJ as he completed the Bulls’ first of two three-peats of NBA titles.

The design of the VIII was a striking contrast to the VII, both designed by Tinker Hatfield. Gone was the minimalist approach of the Huarache concept employed by the VII, and in was the more-is-more approach as used by the VIII. The higher cut aimed to provide the ankle support that was largely absent in the VII, and the criss-crossing straps provided a new level of lockdown in an Air Jordan. One remaining carry-over feature from the VII was the inner bootie, which provided a supreme level of comfort. Encapsulated Air units in the heel and forefoot provided the cushioning, which, like the VII, was no longer visible.

Initial colorway offerings included the White/Black/True Red and Black/Black/True Red. These colorways were worn throughout the season, but the All-Star Game inspired something a little flashier. The Black/Bright Concord/Aqua Tone colorway was worn by MJ as he came close to meeting his season scoring average of 32.6 by knocking down 30 points in the game. It was a fitting shoe to go along with his stellar performance. The Air Jordan VIII has maintained somewhat of a love/hate relationship with fans. While some write it off for its excesses, others champion it for those exact same reasons. And while maybe not the most beloved shoe in the line, as evidenced by the response to its recent retroing, it still maintains a solid fanbase.

The “Aquas” were worn by MJ in the 1993 NBA All-Star Game. This was also the only colorway of the original Air Jordan VIII to not done in the traditional Chicago Bulls color scheme. It took fifteen long years for these to get retroed and when that happened, people were eager to grab them up.

Air Jordan VIII Commercial Starring Bugs Bunny!