Jordan 15 Retro 2017 Obsidian

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.

Jordan 15 Retro Obsidian 2017

The Jordan 15 Retro Obsidian features curves and angles in its design, taking inspiration from the X-15 fighter jet. Part of the side panels is in an Obsidian checkered pattern with white detailing. Solid Obsidian finishes the upper, and a white striped texture at the heel provides contrast. The tongue is white and made of a padded mesh material. Woven Kevlar and leather were used to construct the other parts of the shoes. These sneakers also feature a protruding tongue and Zoom Air in the forefoot. They were released for retail comsumption on March 4th, 2017.