Jordan 15 SE Olympic USA

Jordan 15 SE Olympic USA

Details

Colorway
White / Metallic Silver / Blue Ribbon / Varsity Red
Style Code
317112-104
Release Date
April 13, 2008
Department
Men
Brand
Jordan
Model
Air Jordan 15
Sell one like thisJordan 15 SE Olympic USA

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Jordan 15s, Kicks of the 2008 USA Olympics

The Air Jordan 15 was inspired by the X-15 jet, a rocket-powered aircraft capable of reaching hypersonic speeds and altitudes nearing outer space. Using the streamlined look of the X-15, the Air Jordan 15 had a sleek and pointed toe box. Other design elements included a hidden lace system, a combination of woven Kevlar and leather on the upper, and a large protruding tongue created to mimic Jordan's signature tongue-out face that was visible when he took flight.

With a theme that perfectly matched Jordan's style on the court and Tinker Hatfield behind the design, you'd think the Air Jordan 15 would be nothing less than a slam dunk—but it didn't turn out that way. Hatfield had designed every Air Jordan released since 1988 and, after 11 years, some questioned his continued inspiration.

The resulting sneaker was clunky and had a stiff, hard bottom that clicked on floors like a pair of dress shoes. And though they ran true to size, the bootie construction made them difficult to put on.

History of Air Jordan 15

In 1998, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to a triumphant championship win over the Utah Jazz, completing his second three-peat. It was a storybook ending to Jordan's illustrious career as a player.

With Jordan bowing out of basketball, many thought the Air Jordan would walk off into the sunset with His Airness, but the brand was entering a new phase. Earlier that year, the Air Jordan line became an independent subsidiary of Nike, and the Jordan Brand was founded with Michael Jordan as its CEO. Although MJ traded in his jersey and shorts for a suit, there were more sneakers to come from the brand. One year later, the Air Jordan 15 launched as the first sneaker Jordan didn't wear as an athlete—baseball included.

Jordan 15 SE Olympic USA 2008

These red, white, and blue Jordans can easily be thought of as lifestyle shoes for the USA Olympics. For one, the color scheme transforms the kicks are a portrayal of the American flag, with the white of the upper standing out and commanding attention. The lace lining is a neat red running from the toe section to around back to the collar. Notable in the Jordan Olympic shoes is the rather minuscule stitching work that makes every piece of the upper seem to fall right into place. The blue laces are topped off with a red rubber stick out on the tongue, with the Jumpman aiming sky-high in a blend of red and blue. The outsole has a rather robust feel to it, with only the midsection of the outsole having a glossy finish, while the rest of it has a rugged and tough-looking blue. Designer Tinker Hatfield had a good go at bringing out a feel of the American flag from whatever angle the kicks are looked at.