Air Jordan 3

The Air Jordan 3 is the sneaker that kept Michael Jordan at Nike in 1988 and the first Jordan model by designer Tinker Hatfield. With its elephant print, visible Air unit and Jumpman logo, it set the tone for everything Air Jordan made afterwards. It is a mid-top you can wear just as easily with jeans as with joggers.

The history of the Air Jordan 3

After the Air Jordan 1 and the 2, Jordan was unsure whether he would stay with Nike. Hatfield, who had designed the Air Max 1 shortly before, was the first designer to truly involve him in the process. The result was a mid-top in soft leather that won Jordan over straight away.

In February 1988 Jordan wore the ‘White Cement’ when he won the slam dunk contest with his famous leap from the free-throw line. That same weekend he was named MVP of the All-Star Game. The other original colours from that year are ‘Black Cement’, ‘Fire Red’ and ‘True Blue’.

Design and features

The Air Jordan 3 has a mid-cut collar, an upper in soft tumbled leather and elephant-print panels around the toe and heel. The heel holds a visible Air unit, an idea Hatfield brought over from the Nike Air Max. The tongue carries the Jumpman logo for the first time; retros in the original style have ‘Nike Air’ on the heel.

Popular Air Jordan 3 colorways

These Jordan 3s are currently the most viewed on WOOVIN:

• Jordan 3 Retro Levi’s ‘Indigo’ – a collaboration with Levi’s, with a denim upper.
• Jordan 3 Retro ‘Black Cat’ (2025) – all black, named after Jordan’s nickname.
• Jordan 3 Retro OG SP A Ma Maniére ‘Diffused Blue’ – light blue on a soft, cream-coloured base.

What is the difference between the Air Jordan 3 and the Air Jordan 4?

The Air Jordan 4 from 1989 builds on the 3, with the same visible Air in the heel. The difference is in the upper: the 4 has mesh panels and plastic ‘wings’ for the laces, giving it a more technical look. The 3 is softer and rounder, and a little roomier around the forefoot.

How does the Air Jordan 3 fit?

The Air Jordan 3 fits true to size; your usual Nike size works well for most wearers. The leather is supple, so the shoe needs little breaking in. If you have very wide feet or like to wear thick socks, you can go half a size up.

Buy the Air Jordan 3 at WOOVIN

On WOOVIN you will find the Air Jordan 3 in classic Cement versions, newer colours and collaborations, for women and men. Want the shoe as close to the original as possible? Look for versions with ‘Nike Air’ on the heel. For everyday wear, a colorway with plenty of white or black is the easiest to style.