About the UNC Jordan 15 2008
The Air Jordan 15 was inspired by the X-15 jet, a rocket-powered aircraft capable of reaching hypersonic speeds and altitudes nearing outer space. Using the streamlined look of the X-15, the Air Jordan 15 had a sleek and pointed toe box. Other design elements included a hidden lace system, a combination of woven Kevlar and leather on the upper, and a large protruding tongue created to mimic Jordan's signature tongue-out face that was visible when he took flight.
With a theme that perfectly matched Jordan's style on the court and Tinker Hatfield behind the design, you'd think the Air Jordan 15 would be nothing less than a slam dunk—but it didn't turn out that way. Hatfield had designed every Air Jordan released since 1988 and, after 11 years, some questioned his continued inspiration.
The resulting sneaker was clunky and had a stiff, hard bottom that clicked on floors like a pair of dress shoes. And though they ran true to size, the bootie construction made them difficult to put on.
History of Air Jordan 15
In 1998, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to a triumphant championship win over the Utah Jazz, completing his second three-peat. It was a storybook ending to Jordan's illustrious career as a player.
With Jordan bowing out of basketball, many thought the Air Jordan would walk off into the sunset with His Airness, but the brand was entering a new phase. Earlier that year, the Air Jordan line became an independent subsidiary of Nike, and the Jordan Brand was founded with Michael Jordan as its CEO. Although MJ traded in his jersey and shorts for a suit, there were more sneakers to come from the brand. One year later, the Air Jordan 15 launched as the first sneaker Jordan didn't wear as an athlete—baseball included.
Jordan 15 Retro SE Bragging Rights - UNC 2008
Dubbed the Bragging Rights - UNC Jordans, the University Blue kicks are a homage to Michael Jordan’s alma mater. Designer Tinker Hatfield has the kicks on a University Blue and Bright White theme, like the theme at UNC. The Jordan Retro 15s have a sporty but celebratory feel to them and get their bragging rights - the UNC label -from Jordan’s ‘82 championship triumph. The sportiness of the kicks can be attributed to the broad lace section that runs down up to the top of the toes. A checkered pattern with Jordan’s alma mater theme colors is placed around the top section of the outsole. A relatively fluffy mesh tongue smoothly transitions to the collar's interior, which slopes slightly to the top of the heel. Behind the Jordans on the side, the Jumpman logo stands out in the white, in a glossy silver finish.