Air Jordan 2012

Air Jordan 2011 design veterans Tinker Hatfield and Tom Luedecke joined creative forces once again to create the Air Jordan 2012. The pair drew inspiration from the dancing shoes of the 1920s and '30s, when jazz music was all the rage. The people who danced in these wingtip shoes were considered bold, confident and youthful, just like the AJ 2012.

The Air Jordan 2012 is designed around the idea of "One Shoe, Three Flights." This is a reference to the three different midsole cushioning options that allow ballers to control the game based on their individual playing styles. The "Fly Around" midsole is meant for quick perimeter players who rely on speed and agility to reach the basket. It features forefoot foam and a Zoom Air unit in the heel. The "Fly Over" midsole is for the player that relies on elevation and off-the-ground explosiveness to impact the game. This midsole has a Zoom Air unit in the forefoot and an encapsulated Air Sole unit in the heel for a soft landing. The power player looking to control the inside is offered the "Fly Through" sole, which has a full-length Air Sole unit for an ideal amount of impact protection.

Like the midsole options, the choice of which innersleeve to use depends on your style of play. The low-cut sleeve works well for the quick player seeking a greater range of motion. The high-cut sleeve enhances the overall ankle support, stability and foot protection.

Of course, the AJ 2012 couldn't be a high-performing sneaker without a well-constructed outer shell. Hatfield and Luedecke brought many new performance innovations to the table, which include the debut of a Jordan specific carbon-weave shank plate for superior midfoot stability. The wingtip on the toe-box has tight double stitching and perforations in the shape of an 'M' as a reference to the man, Jordan, himself. Thin lines throughout the midsole give the shoe some extra style while also serving as scratch marks that represent Jordan's "Black Cat" nickname.