The legendary Tinker Hatfield design that solidified MJ’s relationship with Nike returns with an artisan touch. Dubbed the “Desert Elephant,” its aged aesthetic (showcased with rich textures and earth-tone colors) brings a sophisticated look to any outfit. Tumbled Black leather nods to the iconic “Black Cement” release from ’94, bridging past with present, while a special sockliner celebrates the inspiration behind the original.
The “Desert Elephant” takes the color blocking of classics previous — namely, the “Black Cement” — and swaps in new materials and tones. Its overlays, for starters, forgo the beloved “Elephant Print,” replacing it with a brown paneling that’s texturally akin to elephant leather. Elsewhere, the reds of the foremost eyelets and Jumpman logo have been shifted to a lighter orange, and the suedes adjacent select a light tan instead of grey. Black uppers, though, are still intact, backlight the aforementioned features as well as the Jordan Air along the tongue.
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Vlad Ciutacu is a writer based in The Hague, Netherlands. He has been working in the footwear industry for more than a decade, with hundreds of pairs in his collection. His favourite models are the Air Jordan 1 and the Nike SB Dunk Low Pro. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
