Cultural Significance
image via kootnation/GettyLike most original colorways, the shoe came to fame thanks to Michael Jordan?s hardwood heroics. The Air Jordan 5 was worn during most of the ?89-?90 season, where Mike average 33 points, 6 assists, and just shy of 7 rebounds a night. The White/Black-Fire Red colorway was the first of the AJ5s to release to the general public, sporting a 3M tongue made to attract attention the Jumpman when Jordan was photographed on court. MJ?s exclusives featured an embroidered #23 on the side, an attribute that was attached to the final original release of the AJ5 (the White/Fire Red-Black colorway), and later referenced on retro installments.
Will Smith in the Air Jordan 5 White/Black-Fire Red (screenshot via Complex)The Air Jordan 5 took particularly well to casual wear, championed by pop culture icons like Will Smith. Smith sported the silo (and many others) during the first season of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, wearing the White/Black-Fire Red colorway on air and in promo shots.
Originals aside, retro releases of the White/Black-Fire Red colorway have been seen on influential artists such as Kanye West and Chris Brown. The shoes have stayed on par with the recent retro boom, due much in part to their on court origin and off court wearability.
