Early in his second pro season, Michael Jordan suffered his first serious setback—a broken bone in his foot. Despite doctors’ warnings and 64 missed games, he remained fearless, lacing up the newly debuted Air Jordan I in time to guide his team through the grind of the postseason.
With that legacy in mind, we sat down with Materials Design Director Suzanne Piubeni, Color Designer Kelsey Amy and Sr. PLM Jeff Atienza to discuss their collaboration with Wings, the brand’s community impact program. Wings promotes self-belief to help conquer seemingly impossible challenges.
Early in his second pro season, Michael Jordan suffered his first serious setback—a broken bone in his foot. Despite doctors’ warnings and 64 missed games, he remained fearless, lacing up the newly debuted Air Jordan I in time to guide his team through the grind of the postseason.
With that legacy in mind, we sat down with Materials Design Director Suzanne Piubeni, Color Designer Kelsey Amy and Sr. PLM Jeff Atienza to discuss their collaboration with Wings, the brand’s community impact program. Wings promotes self-belief to help conquer seemingly impossible challenges.
The Air Jordan I Retro ‘Wings’ is made of black leather with a gold undertone that is only revealed through agitation and stress. “It’s reminiscent of a bronzed statue,” says Amy. “It’s the idea of being immortalized—especially since the Air Jordan I is Michael’s most iconic shoe. It cemented him in history.”
While this edition of the Air Jordan I is sure to catch eyes, some details are less apparent. A translucent outsole features WINGS in bold type, while the shoe’s insole graphic displays gold-trimmed wings—a nod to the foundation’s mantra: “With a little help, everyone can fly.”
“Often, there’s one small element that makes your shoe different,” says Amy. “We consider those tiny details that might be overlooked—but followers of the brand and the program will appreciate them.”
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