Jordan Brand has today announced release details for three upcoming colorways of the Air Jordan 33, including a China exclusive inspired by the brand's first professional Chinese basketball player, Guo Ailun.
Air Jordan 33 “Visible Utility” (11/1): This colorway was inspired by Nike ACG colorways and vibrant basketball courts. Though it has yellow, pink and red hits, it’s grounded in a neutral beige.
Air Jordan 33 Guo Ailun (11/11): The China-exclusive colorway is inspired by the brand’s first professional Chinese basketball player, Guo Ailun, and his favorite color, island green. The shoe commemorates Guo with a “G” on the left tongue and Mandarin characters that translate to: “What the mind wants, the body will follow.”
Air Jordan 33 “Utility Blackout” (11/29): “Utility Blackout” was inspired by the brand’s history of stealth-inspired colorways. With the exception of red stitching and an ice sole, it’s all black and ready to hit the court.
The Air Jordan 33 is the first Air Jordan basketball shoe to feature Nike’s FastFit technology. FastFit removes laces and introduces an all-new system for containment on the court, an innovation designed to provide ultimate lockdown.
“Flight has always been part of our Jordan DNA,” says Jordan Brand Vice President of Design David Creech. “Our team considered the utility-led design of space flight suits and used that inspiration to help craft the AJ XXXIII. Like those suits, the shoe features visible technology designed for function, but that also becomes a staple style element.”
How FastFit works, according to Jordan Brand:
- Loops on the tongue and heel allow easier entry
- The tightening system activates its cables with a single tug of the forefoot strap, creating a full 360-lockdown
- Eject by pulling the side loops to release the cables
Like all of the Jordan models post the AJ30, the 33 also features subtle design cues from the past. The window to the tightening system mimics the original Air window, and the use of “Nike Air” on the heel tab is a reflection of the III, IV, V and VI. The extra-large tongue is also the perfect canvas for a Jumpman — just as it was when Tinker Hatfield debuted the logo on the Air Jordan 3.