Arriving at 1993 NBA All-Star Weekend in its famed “Aqua” colorway, the Air Jordan 8 built off the inner bootie ethos of Air Jordan 7 before it, instead Air Jordan Sneakers White taking a sturdier and stronger approach by way of extra-padding and criss-crossing straps.
Lifting the X-shaped straps from 1992’s outdoor oriented Nike Air Raid — a basketball shoe also co-designed by Hatfield — the Air Jordan 8 spoke to a new toughness and attitude that was driving the sport. Signature Air Jordan 8 OVO Black style points on the Air Jordan 8 appear in the form of a fuzzy tongue, inspired by the model’s marketing campaign with Bugs Bunny and the “Looney Tunes” cast, as well as a brush stroke midsole.
The Air Jordan VIII has long been known for its unique cross-strap upper design. Intended for maximum lockdown while pushing design to new places, Soft and Comfortable the cross-strap feature was first seen on the Air Raid outdoor basketball shoe by Nike. Now, the two silhouettes come together once more, with the Air Jordan VIII taking on a colorway inspired by the 1993 Air Raid II that celebrated world peace.
The Air Jordan 8 South Beach is a new colorway of the silhouette releasing this season. Covered in an official theme of White, Turbo Green, and Air Jordan Sneakers Men Multi-Color, the sneaker’s leather upper is mostly shaded in white, while the bright contrasting hits of pink, turbo green and black are seen on the signature graphics across its heel, tongue branding, lining and buckles on the laces. Finally, two set of laces in turbo green and pink, followed by a white/grey midsole with orange pops on the outsole and tongue patch tops it all off.