2022 has been a resurgent year for the underrepresented Air Jordan 2. Spurred on by the late Virgil Abloh’s remixes of the sneaker released prior to his tragic passing in 2021, the sneaker has found new life over the year with an array of colorways and collaborations. As an ode to the underrated silhouette, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite Air Jordan 2s released this year.
Union and Jordan Brand know how to debut a sneaker. The promotional campaign that delivered the sneaker in a glass terrarium filled with butterflies is one of the most striking promotions of all time and the sneakers were no slouch either. A tan shade of “Rattan” and “Grey Fog” both with a perforated, workwear style look kicked off the wave of 2s we’re surfing today.
J. Balvin x Air Jordan 2
How could J.Balvin follow up that bold Air Jordan 1 design? By going all in on the Air Jordan 2, dressed in a cloud theme with suede accents and a light-up tongue, El Colombiano took the AJ2 sky high.
Parisian boutique Maison Château Rouge gave the Air Jordan 2 an elevated look with its ultra-detailed remix of the Air Jordan 2. Debossed patterns, contrasting stitching, and layered eyelets give the sneaker an elegant look.
Nina Chanel Abney x Air Jordan 2
Whereas Maison Château Rouge went for a more detailed take on the AJ2, Chicago-based artist Nina Chanel Abney stripped the sneaker down, taking away most of the piping for a streamlined look.
A Ma Maniere continued to remix select silhouettes from the Air Jordan line and chose to give the AJ2 their signature elevated look with quilted liners and insoles. The Air Jordan 2 features many similarities to AMM’s take on the Air Jordan 1, like the cracked sail upper, burgundy accents, and snakeskin details.
Sister-store to Detroit’s Burn Rubber Two18 crafted an Air Jordan 2 filled with details not only presenting Detroit but the surrounding area. A map of Southeastern Michigan can be found on the insoles while the outsole that transitions from a brown semi-translucent to an icy clear outsole represents the water of Flint Michigan. Subtle red and blue piping on the quarter panels represents the Detroit Bad Boys themselves.
Shelflife’s take on the Air Jordan 2 marks Jordan Brand’s first collaborative effort with an African brand. South Africa-based Shelflife’s remix is one of the more neutral variations of the AJ2 but its still packed with details. The insoles features reference to the African belief in ubuntu and includes quotes “I am because we are.” The muted tones are accentuated with orange accents on the tongue and semi-transparent midsole and green laces.
As a part of the “Int’l Flight Club” collection that included the Two18 and Shelflife AJ2s, Manilla-based TITAN gave the Air Jordan 2 a tropical remix. The sneaker came with seafoam green lining on the tongue and eyelets, green on the corduroy toebox, and orange on the lining, outsole, and speckled on the midsole.
After a revival year for the Air Jordan 2, it was only right to end it with the OG. Last seen back in 2010, the Air Jordan 2 Chicago was due for a return and with the world’s newfound appreciation for the silhouette thanks to some help from Virgil, the sneaker is set to soar to higher heights than ever before. The colorway looks to evoke the original 1987 release all the way down to the packaging.
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