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Part I
From Freshness
Air Jordan 2009 Unveiled - With Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan enters the event holding the Air Jordan 2009
Michael Jordan made a surprise entrance earlier this morning to unveil the follow up to the Air Jordan XX3, which was the last numbered Air Jordan. Michael Jordan took the entire room by surprise coming from back of the room with the new Air Jordan 2009. MJ joined Jason Mayden the designer, Keith Houlemard the Jordan Brand President and the first women athlete in the Jordan roster April Holmes. For those of you who don't know April Holmes, Holmes is the first female athlete on the Team Jordan roster and competes on the US Paralympics Track and Field Team. She owns the world records (women's T44 classification) in
the 100m, 200m and 400m dashes, and her many accomplishments have earned her the title of "world's fastest amputee." Jason Mayden and Michael Jordan spoke about the inspiration, development and design of the Air Jordan 2009 as well as MJ's career developments thats taken Jordan Brand toward the Air Jordan 2009. Toward the end, Michael Jordan, Jason Mayden, April Holmes and Keith Houlemard took a number of questions from the audience with MJ answering the most. Not a surprise as this is a very rare appearance by Michael Jordan in the announcement of his signature sneaker. More on the Air Jordan 2009 upcoming…
Michael Jordan holding the Air Jordan 2009
From left: Jason Mayden, Michael Jordan, April Holmes and Keith Houlemard
From left: Jason Mayden, Michael Jordan, April Holmes and Keith Houlemard
Michael Jordan and April Holmes
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PART II
From Freshness
Air Jordan 2009 Unveiled
As some of you may have seen in our previous article on Michael Jordan unveiling the Air Jordan 2009, this piece will focus on the Air Jordan 2009. As 23 was the number everyone remembers Michael Jordan by, moving the Jordan Brand forward, he didn't want to down play the importance of 23 by using 24 and thus the Air Jordan 2009 was decided on. In the years that follow, we'll assuming the next in line will be the Air Jordan 2010.
In designing the Air Jordan 2009, Jordan Brand designer Jason Mayden used the sport of Fencing as the inspiration and philosophy for the shoes overall design. Both Michael Jordan and Jason Mayden agree that the art of Fencing can be compared to the battle on the court where both athlete require quick moves, quick attacks and quick defense. With that in mind, much of the sneaker takes inspiration from the uniforms of Fencing athletes and the technology is inspired by both the art of fencing and basketball.
AIR JORDAN 2009
The all new AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe is born from the inspiration of Michael Jordan's unstoppable will. When Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, he was driven to practice harder and longer and earned a spot on an All-American Team his senior year. When critics scoffed at his return from retirement in 1995, Jordan quieted his opponents by leading the Bulls to their second Championship three-peat. Jordan does not back down from challenges - he rises.
Pioneered from this philosophy, AIR JORDAN returns and presents the world with the answer to the Jordan Brand's challenge of creating the most original basketball shoe on the planet. The AIR JORDAN 2009 honors the franchise's tradition of innovation through its cutting-edge technology features. The shoe introduces Articulated Propulsion Technology (APT), a revolutionary heel system inspired by the carbon fiber prosthetics used by Paralympians and developed to allow an explosive forward movement. The heel is also split, which ensures superior responsiveness by keeping at least one half of the heel in contact with the ground at all times.
The polished design of the AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe complements its performance elements and overall engineering. The design technique of blown glass inspired the TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane) chassis on the outsole. Using this method, each shoe is individually unique and guarantees the ultimate limited edition experience: a one-of-one collection. In addition, the AIR JORDAN 2009 flaunts polishable panache leather on the upper, a nod to the franchise's trademark elegance. The AIR JORDAN 2009 continues Jordan Brand's forward-thinking respect for the environment with the launch of its second Considered Design shoe. Designed under the Considered Design ethos of combining sustainability with performance and innovation, the shoe seeks to reduce waste and allow for the use of environmentally-preferred materials - without compromising athletic performance. The Considered Design ethos is one of several company-wide corporate responsibility targets that NIKE, Inc. has implemented to sustain long-term growth and innovation.
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AIR JORDAN 2009 Performance Features
Upper
• Overall design contours the foot and allows for superior responsiveness, quick reaction time and maximum support.
• Pleating on the satin upper reinforces the durable construction and molds to the foot for a secure lockdown.
• Foam inserts in the heel provide further lockdown by hugging the Achilles tendon.
• Injected dot grip on the outer heel makes pulling on the shoe easy and effortless.
• Moisture-wicking, breathable liner ensures comfort and stability.
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AIR JORDAN 2009 Performance Features
Midsole/Outsole
• Heel employs cutting-edge Articulated Propulsion Technology (APT) that allows the athlete to explosively and quickly propel forward.
• Split in heel ensures outstanding responsiveness by allowing one side of the heel to react to lateral movement while the opposite side maintains contact with the ground.
• Carbon fiber plate in the arch provides support and compliments the heel's performance enhancing design.
• TPU (Thermo Plastic Urethane) chassis offers additional structural support.
• Articulated forefoot Zoom Air unit cushions foot to maximize comfort.
• Outsole grooves flex naturally with the grooves of the foot for exceptional traction.
• Multi-directional herringbone patterns grip the court for optimal movement.
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AIR JORDAN 2009 Design Features
• Blown-glass-inspired TPU chassis is unique in every shoe, creating a one-of-one limited edition collection.
• Polishable panache leather and white satin pleating on upper nod to Michael Jordan's ability to be both a gentleman and a fierce on-court competitor.
• Strategically placed stitching reinforces construction while offering high-end European-style aesthetic.
• Stitching on upper is sewn in two rows and three rows to represent #23.
• Metal mesh implies the sport of fencing, known for its exceptional defensive element.
• Heel detail references Michael Jordan's statue in front of the Chicago Bulls' United Center: The left shoe reads "Greatest there ever was," and the right, "Greatest there ever will be."
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Considered Design
• AIR JORDAN 2009 is Jordan Brand's second basketball shoe designed under the Considered Design ethos.
• AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe's design and development seek to reduce waste by using smarter pattern-efficiency and the compression molded pre-form process in the midsole.
• AIR JORDAN 2009 maximizes the use of environmentally-preferred materials, such as Prime Asia leather and environmentally-preferred rubber.
• The design emphasizes repurposed materials, including reground rubber from footwear manufacturing waste.
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A special limited edition of the AIR JORDAN 2009 shoe will launch on January 31, 2009, with a suggested retail price of $230. The AIR JORDAN 2009 will then launch nationwide on February 14, 2009, with a suggested retail price of $190. For more information, please visit www.Jumpman23.com.
