Brand: Nina Chanel Abney x Jordan
Model: Air Jordan 2 Low and High SE
Editor’s Notes: After Off-White™ and Union LA, artist Nina Chanel Abney is next to hop on 2022's Air Jordan 2 agenda, debuting first looks at her collaboration with the Jordan Brand.
On April 13, Nina Chanel Abney teased her upcoming Jordan collaboration by posting a Jumpman logo reimagined through the artistic lens of Abney herself.
Following the mashup logo teaser, Abney then debuted on-foot looks at her Jordan collaboration at the Jordan Brand Classic Girls basketball game in Chicago, showcasing a red Jordan 2 High SE and a green Jordan 2 Low SE.
Looking closely at Abney's collaborative kicks, you notice her Jordan 2s look a little different — in a good way, of course.
The Nina Chanel Abney x Air Jordan 2 — speculated to drop on July 8 and accompanied by an apparel capsule — ditches the model's signature ankle ridge detail and softens the midsole, leaning away from retro Jordan 2's athletic edge and focusing more on the shoe's luxe aesthetic like the Jordan 2 Deconstructed.
After all, Nike originally envisioned the Air Jordan 2 as having a luxury sneaker vibe.
You can also say Abney's smooth, geometric-focused approach to her Jordan 2 sneakers mimics her artistic works.
She's known for bringing simplified figures and shapes to life through her use of vibrant hues and prints – evident with her 2019 Art Basel Hong Kong pieces and 2020 UNO collaboration.
The color choices are also quite noteworthy. Abney, a fellow Chicago native, channels the Air Jordan 2 "Chicago Home" colorway with her high-top sneakers boasting red, white, and grey – taking things back home for her collab, much like the OG home game shoe does.
As another easter egg, Abney redesigned the shoe's hangtag to feature artwork inspired by a famous shot of Michael Jordan leaping in the air during the 1987 Hall of Fame game against the Lakers.
With the Nina Chanel Abney x Air Jordan 2 collab and its A1 underlying details, I'd say the Jordan Brand has picked up another impressive passenger on its Jordan 2 train. And, the drop-off is sure to be successful.
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