One of the biggest brands in the sneaker industry is Jordan Brand. And whether you’re a basketball fan or not, you most likely know who Michael Jordan is. After all, it’s a bit hard to not know him because he impacted the culture on and off the basketball court. But today, we’re gonna answer a question that many ask: who owns Air Jordan as a brand? Is it Jordan himself or it’s still handled by the mother brand Nike? Well, we’re gonna answer that and more right now, shall we?
Back to Where It All Started
1984 was a crucial year in the story of how the sneaker culture evolved, and that was all thanks to an NBA rookie. Michael Jordan was the rookie to watch when he got drafted into the NBA by the Chicago Bulls. And well, sneaker brands are always on the lookout for new talent to recruit. Although Jordan had eyes only for Adidas, his mother kept an open mind and convinced him to give Nike a shot. That shot turned out to be the jackpot for the Swoosh that made them dominate the hardwood floor. If you wanna learn more about the full Air Jordan history, we broke it down in detail here.
So… Who Owns Air Jordan Today?
Although the brand grew beyond any other endorsement deal, Nike still owns Jordan Brand. True, it’s Michael Jordan’s face and name that sells these babies, but Nike factories make them. And when the company releases its financial statements, Jordan Brand is always in the calculations! Mind you though, at the managerial level, JB is pretty independent, unlike other signature deals. For example, the Kobe, LeBron, KD line, and all the deals that followed are strictly governed by Nike. Meanwhile, Jordan Brand has its own design team and so on. So, you can call it a semi-independent brand!
Now, if you ever wanna put your hands on a pair of Jordans, you’ll need help. You see, when it comes to hype and popularity, nobody does it the way Jordan Brand! From amazing collabs to retros everybody wants, the competition is always on. So make sure you know how to get these babies for retail if that’s what you’re into! And if you wanna keep up with the latest Jordan release news, our blog’s got your back. Godspeed!
