Released November 1999 Head Designer: Tinker Hatfield
The design of the Air Jordan 15 originated from the futuristic X-15 fighter jet developed by NASA during the 1950’s. The tongue of the shoe stuck out parallel to the ground. Many wondered if this was to resemble Jordan’s famous facial expression while soaring through the air.
The Air Jordan 15 also had a red stripe that went up the back of the shoe and bottom of the heel. This stripe caused many to ponder if the inspiration for this feature of the Air Jordan 15 came from the signature stripe on Prada shoes. The shoes also had an “original” woven upper, but many thought this was also inspired by Italian designers. The Air Jordan 15 was indeed the last shoe that Tinker Hatfield made at the time. It could be easily argued that this model did not compare to his first work, the Air Jordan 3.
