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Air Jordan 3 Release Dates
Originally released in 1988, the Air Jordan 3 is the first Air Jordan designed by Tinker Hatfield, and marks a transitional period for Michael Jordan’s career. The shoes leaped to new heights as MJ won the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest and starred in Nike ads alongside Spike Lee’s Mars Blackmon character. The Air Jordan 3 surpassed the popularity of its predecessors and became a cultural icon. Over time, the sneakers have seen various collaborations and modifications, but to this day, the Air Jordan 3 is hailed as one of the greatest sneakers of all time.
The Air Jordan 3 is the third installment of Michael Jordan's signature sneaker line. It is the first Jordan model to include a visible Air unit in its midsole and was designed with an outsole similar to the Nike Air Revolution released a year prior. The sneakers feature an elephant print motif on the uppers around the toebox and heels, as well as the "Jumpman" logo that debuted on the tongue. The AJ 3's design was so well executed that it actually persuaded MJ to continue his contract at Nike.
The Air Jordan 3 is available at select sneaker retailers worldwide. Nike's website and the SNKRS app are also primary sources for the AJ3. Stores like Foot Locker and JD Sports tend to stock these sneakers, as well as smaller boutiques such as A Ma Maniere and Sneaker Politics. The Air Jordan 3 is a highly sought-after shoe, so availability may be limited.
The Air Jordan 3 originally released in four colorways: Black Cement, White Cement, Fire Red, and True Blue. Since 1988, we've seen many material changes to the AJ 3, including Flyknit and pairs with fully-reflective 3M and elephant print uppers. Some non-collab colorways that stand out are Mochas, Do The Right Things, and Black Cats.
Modern Air Jordan 3s fit true-to-size. Original pairs tend to run slightly narrow, so we do recommend going up a half size if hunting down a pair from 1988. For the most part, the sneaker has remained untouched and should have a fit similar to most models in the Air Jordan lineage.
The Air Jordan 3 does not restock often. On the rare occasion they do, the SNKRS app and Nike's website will be primary sources for access. Retailers like JD Sports, Foot Locker, and Dick's Sporting Goods tend to offer restocks on select pairs from time to time. For restock alerts, download the Sole Retriever app to receive info on all of your favorite AJ 3s.
The Air Jordan 3 is a sneaker with a ton of collaborations under its belt. The shoe has been the canvas for fashion brands like Vogue, fragment, and Levi's. More recently, we've seen the AJ 3 touched by artists like Teyana Taylor, J. Balvin, and Nina Chanel Abney, as well as retail shops such as A Ma Maniere and SoleFly. The list goes on, but with every new iteration, we continue to see just how versatile the 3 can be.
