Nike manufactures Michael Jordan’s signature sneakers, the Air Jordan line. The shoes are produced by Nike, Inc., while the related footwear, clothing, and accessories are marketed under the Jordan Brand, a Nike division created around Jordan’s global athletic identity.
Jordan signed with Nike in 1984 after entering the NBA, even though he had also been approached by Adidas and Converse. Nike built an unusually personal campaign around the young Chicago Bulls star, treating him as the centerpiece of a dedicated product line rather than simply attaching his name to an existing shoe.
The first Air Jordan was released to the public on April 1, 1985. Its black-and-red design challenged the NBA’s uniform rules, and the resulting controversy helped turn the sneaker into a cultural phenomenon. The line eventually expanded beyond basketball shoes into apparel and lifestyle products.
A common mix-up is answering “Jordan Brand.” That is the marketing brand associated with the products, but Nike is the company behind the Air Jordan line. The famous Jumpman logo arrived later, debuting on the Air Jordan III in 1988.