Basketball footwear has never been the same again, ever since the advent of the glorious Air Jordan shoes and the successive remakes of the old models known as Retro Jordans. Named after the legendary player Michael Jordan, the first pair was introduced to the market in 1985 by Nike and since then there has been no looking back as the shoe euphoria turned into a full-fledged fashion industry.



These shoes marked a new era where basketball shoes were concerned and the one responsible for crafting and designing the earliest pairs was Peter Moore. The original Air Jordan I had a combination of two colors such as the black/red model and it included a double set of laces to match the two colors of the shoe. These shoes became so popular that Nike had to create a sub division for managing everything to do with Air Jordan sneakers.

Ever since the first pair, 23 models have been released to the market and the various models are successively numbered in order to signify the sequence of the release. Most of the original models have also been released to the market as Retro Air Jordans and they are slightly changed or modified to suit the latest trends and fashion styles.

Both the classics and the retro have gained immense brand value even among the various celebrities including popular movie and television stars. Despite the fact that Michael Jordan retired from basketball in 2003, there hasn't been any negative impact on the brand, which has rather grown and is still considered as the top selling brand. Here's a look at some of the popular retro models that were introduced over a period of time in the market.

Air Jordan I ? The original pair of shoes was released as retro in 1994 and did not do very well, however in 2001 it again came out into the market in patent leather and it became popular within a short span of time. This model sold successfully and was appreciated by the customers for its modified look and style.

Air Jordan IV ? This 1989 model, which even featured in the movie ?Do the Right Thing?, was released as retro in 1999 and it sold out within the first few hours and the demand for this model was unbelievably high. Redesigned in white/black and black/cement grey, this shoe was a hit and even led to the idea of releasing Retro+ models with little design change in different colors.

Air Jordan V ? This 1990 model was re-released in 1999 in white/black-fire red and black/black-met silver. It was accepted with great enthusiasm and there was quite a demand for this model as well.

Air Jordan XI ? Though the original model also heralded the comeback of Michael Jordan in 1995, the model by itself in the original version did not do that well. However, the story was different with the retro version, which was released in 2000-2001 and became the most popular and fastest selling Retro Jordans of all.

Though the 11th model was the most famous retros of all, the legacy of the legend Michael Jordan continues with the release of new ones and re-release of Retro Jordans shoes.