Context
Air Jordan: a short timeline
District 23 took its name from Michael Jordan's shirt number. This page sketches how a signature basketball shoe became a brand big enough to run a summer programme in Paris.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1984 | The Air Jordan line debuts for Michael Jordan, then a Chicago Bulls rookie. Peter Moore leads the design of the Air Jordan 1. |
| 1988 | The Air Jordan III, designed by Tinker Hatfield, introduces the Jumpman silhouette, based on a photo by Co Rentmeester. |
| 1997 | Nike and Jordan set up Jordan Brand as a dedicated subsidiary for shoes and apparel. |
| 2018 | Paris Saint-Germain wears the Jumpman on its Champions League kits, Jordan Brand's first football partnership. |
| 2022 | Jordan Brand generates about $5.1 billion in annual revenue for Nike. |
| 2024 | District 23 opens in Barbès; six artists reinterpret the Air Jordan 1 for the Diaspora Renaissance exhibition. |
Why Paris
The PSG partnership made the Jumpman a common sight in Paris well beyond basketball, and the city's street-basketball culture had long been a Jordan Brand focus. District 23 tied both to the Olympic summer. The Air Jordan 1 appears again in the exhibition because it is the model that started the line.
Buying the classics today
Retro releases of early models, especially the Air Jordan 1, remain the most sought-after part of the line, and prices vary a lot between retailers and regions. If you are shopping for a pair, compare several sellers and check the exact colourway and release year before paying a premium.