Forty years later, Air Jordans still define sneaker culture in Chicago and beyond

CHICAGO - Nike is the biggest shoe brand in the world. When the company signed Michael Jordan in 1984, nobody could’ve predicted the global impact that has evolved from basketball to boardrooms. It all started with the first Air Jordan’s.

"If you think back to the 1980s when this shoe was first revealed, it wasn't more so, just the fact that it's a new high top that Nike was unveiling," said Shay Belvin, co-owner of Sneakerhead University. "It was more going against the status quo. I think people love going against the status quo, so it'll always be relevant."

Back in the early 1980s, Nike wasn’t as profitable or popular as brands like Adidas and Converse. Then came the Nike Air Jordan with its high-top silhouette and bold color scheme. Nike projected 100,000 pairs in the first year bu