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The Jordan 12 Retro Alternate 87
Inspired by Japan's Rising Sun flag and a woman's 19th-century shoe's high heel (yes, you heard that correctly!), the Tinker Hatfield-designed Air Jordan 12 made its debut in 1996. MJ wanted a comfortable, durable heel that was also stylish, so he took his cue from a woman's shoe profile.
The OG Jordan 12 originated with five colourways in 1996 and 1997. The Air Jordan 12 Retro series was later introduced in 2003 and continues today. From OG colourways like "Taxi" and "Flu Game" to exclusive Retro collabs with OVO and PSNY, Air Jordan 12 trainers are sought after for their bold silhouette, sharp colour combos and long-wearing durability.
Air Jordan 12: History and a Brand New Launch
After the extraordinary success of the Air Jordan 11, Michael Jordan's 12th signature shoe was released in 1996. The official launch of the Jordan Brand occurred the following year, and the Jordan 12s were the last of the line to be sold in a Nike branded box.
Aesthetically, the AJ 12 merged details like stitched leather panels that resembled rays from the sun with a sleek shape based loosely on a 19th-century dress boot. Performance-wise, the Air Jordan 12s retained the revolutionary carbon fibre plate introduced in the Air Jordan 11 and added Nike Zoom Air cushioning - the first Jordan trainer to do so.
The Alternate 87 colourway released in 2016 as a general public debut of the Player Exclusive classic. The trainer features an almost entirely black design with Varsity Red accents highlighting this release from top to bottom. A diamond pattern and alligator skin texture coats each shoe's side to offer distinctions between each black section, while a nubuck leather upper covers the toe. The mudguard, midsole, tongue, laces, ankle, inner sock liner, and outer sole are all adorned in black as well. Red comes into play through eyelets, heel accents, a thin line contour on each side, and a Wings logo on the padded tongue. Accents of red are also stamped on the bottom tread. This Alternate 87 colourway made its way to select stores nationwide on February 6th of 2016.
