Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts, catching the latest movies, and trying new food.
For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com
The actual process of getting a colorway from concept to retail shelves is much longer than you might think. Sneakers go through development processes that take months and sometimes years, even for something as simple as a color palette. Most of the time, the scrapped samples that did not make the cut rarely see the light of day, and even rarer than that is a release years later. For the latest women’s exclusive Air Jordan 3, its origins can be traced back nearly 20 years.
In 2007, Jordan Brand was in the midst of creating “lifestyle” colorways that featured colors you may not expect to see on Air Jordans. While nowadays, pretty much the entire rainbow has graced the Jordan lineup, things were much different in that era of retro releases. This Citrus colorway was sampled in ‘07, but ultimately scrapped.
Air Jordan 3 Retro Orange Citrus (W)
Now, just shy of 20 years later, Jordan Brand is bringing the sample to retail. The pair itself is a 1:1 recreation of the sample colorway, with perforated leather used below the orange and tan elephant print panels. White tumbled leather is used on the majority of the upper, with more perforated panels on the tongue, eyestays, and collar. Pops of university red grace the Jumpman on the tongue and on the heel, while more orange is found on the “AIR” text placed on the heel tab and on the lining of the tongue. Finishing touches include an orange sockliner, grey TPU eyelets, a white midsole, and an orange and white rubber outsole.
The women’s Air Jordan 3 Retro Orange Citrus will be released Summer 2026 through Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Available in women’s sizing, the retail price is set at $205. Check below for official images of the 2026 release, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app for updates on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker world.
