Jordan Brand is showing some love this February.
As part of the 35th-anniversary celebration, the Air Jordan 6 is returning in a legendary colorway. But, there is a twist.
The AJ6 Infrared “Salesman.” An accompanying apparel collection celebrates the silhouette that started Jordan’s legendary run that culminated with six NBA Championship wins- as well as six NBA Finals MVPs.
Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the AJ6 Infrared was worn by Michael Jordan during the 1991 playoffs, where he overcame league superstars and conference foes to win his first title. The AJ6 Infrared colorway has re-released several times, but never like the pair that will hit us on Valentine’s Day.
This year’s Infrared 6 appeared as a sample in a 1999 seasonal preview catalog before it was pulled from production after negative feedback from Air Jordan fans. Of course, the biggest update to this model was the placement of the Infrared shade, going from a more subtle detail on the midsole to taking up the majority of the midsole.
According to Jordan Brand, this year’s retro will feature “a specific shade of Infrared that was reverse-engineered by comparing both the 1991 and 2000 pairs side by side to ensure the exact specifications were met.”
The new “Salesman” is also the first non-collaboration AJ6 to feature an updated shape that closely resembles the original 1991 silhouette. The internal bootie construction has been modified to allow the toe shape to be closer to the pair Jordan played in. The tongue height was also modified, raising it by 2mm to mimic all the AJ6 pairs MJ wore in-game.
The sneaker also features sample texts printed on its inner collar and a factory hangtag meant as a nod to the shoe’s origin as a sample.
The Air Jordan 6 ‘Infrared Salesman’ releases on February 14th via SNKRS and participating Jordan Brand Retailers.
Photos courtesy of Nike
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Release week is finally upon us for the ‘Infrared Salesman’.
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Earlier this week, we previewed the upcoming sneaker that has spent over two decades in the making.
As we all know now, Jordan Brand began to dip its toes into the world of retroing sneakers at the turn of the new millennium. This version of the Infrared Air Jordan Six began appearing in magazine previews and quickly received backlash from the most devoted of Air Jordan fans.
The world of sneakers was a drastically different time then. There was no world for modifications to Jordan’s sneakers then. Furthermore, there was no space for a rerelease in those days. Naturally, Jordan Brand fans had a rough reaction to seeing the Infrared return in a way that was disloyal to the 1991 original.
Now, over 25 years since the sneaker first appeared in sneaker catalogues, it is finally being released. The ‘Infrared Salesman’ is a celebration of the legacy of the Air Jordan Six. The beloved model has long held a special place in the hearts of sneaker fans. The reinterpretation of such an important coloway is now a very welcome addition. So much so that it is Jordan Brand’s marquee release for the NBA All-Star Star Weekend.
You can grab the ‘Infrared Salesman’ Air Jordan 6 on February 14th via SNKRS and participating Jordan Brand retailers.
photo courtesy of Sneaker Politics
