“I want it (Jordan Fly Wade) to be something that transcends away from the basketball court that kids and other people can wear with jeans. I think this shoe not only has all the things I need to play basketball, but it has the initial look that can make it a very great product on and off the court.” – Dwyane Wade
Today, April 4, 2011, Jordan Brand officially unveiled Dwyane Wade’s first signature sneaker (with the brand), the Jordan Fly Wade. The Fly Wade immediately becomes the lightest Jordan basketball sneaker ever created (13 oz.); yet, this “impossibly lightweight” sneaker is just as durable as any sneaker on the market making for a very unique combination of lightweight capacity and explosiveness. Inspired by Wade’s aggressive style of play, the Jordan Fly Wade combines a Nike Zoom unit in the forefoot with a Max Air unit in the heel. This combination provides the wearer with a extreme lightweight responsiveness and unmatched impact protection.
“Ultimately, we wanted to make something lightweight, thin, closer-to-the-foot and very technical”, said Jordan Creative Director Mark Smith.
Dwyane Wade is a unique superstar in regards to his play on the court. Some superstars in the NBA rely on speed and quickness, while others use explosiveness and jumping ability around the hoop. Throughout the 48 minutes of a game, Wade relies on both types of skill packages. Therefore, this Jordan Fly Wade is undoubtedly the ideal model for him. It involves the explosiveness and quickness seen in the Air Jordan 2011 except it only uses one sole.
As for aesthetics, this shoe, which was designed by Jordan Creative Director Mark Smith and Senior Footwear Designer Tom Luedecke, incorporates Dwyane Wade’s new #3 logo on the tongue and features a crackled elephant print on the outsole. The actual upper is comprised of a lightweight synthetic upper and an engineered textile material for extremely lightweight fit.
Two colorways of the Jordan Fly Wade will be available to the public on Thursday, May 5, 2011 and in China on Saturday, May 7, 2011, for $140. Lastly, the Jordan Fly Wade will be available for NikeiD customization on Sunday May 29, 2011. The final two colorways will hit retailers in June.
