One of the biggest changes in the sneaker scene over the past 15 years has been the rise of luxury silhouettes. What was once a niche category has now become a major part of collector culture.
In 2010, however, Nike decided to launch a premium version of its Air Jordan. The series was called Bin 23 — a nod to the wine industry where a cellar bin is where rare bottles are stored — and it featured upgraded leather, handcrafted details, a wax seal on the tongue and luxury packaging.
The run only lasted about a year or two. Timing wasn’t great. Sneakerheads still wanted reissues of models they remembered from the ‘80s and ‘90s rather than more expensive variants.
But in recent years, with a new generation of enthusiasts and the convergence with fashion, luxury sneakers have been booming. Nike is getting on board too, reviving Bin 23 for the first time in a decade and a half.
Three the hard way
The initial Bin 23 series consisted of five different Air Jordan models (2, 5, 7, 9 and 13). Possibly the highest-quality retro Jordans ever produced, the lineup was sorely lacking one of the most popular, and important, basketball shoes of all time.
