Levi's × Air Jordan 3 – Denim Meets a Basketball Design Icon

Jordan Brand and Levi's are returning to a collaborative project. After a few years apart, the two brands are once again combining their aesthetics, this time on the Air Jordan 3 silhouette. The spring 2026 release includes three colorways , all based on denim with signature Levi's details and the classic AJ3 construction.

The History of the Air Jordan 3

The Air Jordan 3 debuted in 1988. Designed by Tinker Hatfield , who remains one of Nike's most important designers to this day, the model is associated with a period when Michael Jordan was considering leaving Nike. Hatfield showed him a prototype of the Threes, and it was this design that determined the continued collaboration. As a result, the AJ3 became one of the most recognizable models in sneaker history.

Today, it's a silhouette that appears in both limited collaborations and classic retro releases. With simpler panels and fewer stitching lines, the AJ3 easily adapts to various materials—including denim.

Why the Jordan 3 is a breakthrough model:

• the first Air Jordans with a visible Air cushion in the sole,

• introducing the distinctive elephant print ,

• medium upper height, which was supposed to give Jordan more freedom,

• debut of the Jumpman logo, which later became the foundation of Jordan Brand.

Levi's - history and cultural significance

Levi Strauss & Co. was founded in San Francisco in 1853. Initially, the company made clothing for miners and laborers. The breakthrough came in 1873, when Levi Strauss, together with tailor Jacob Davis, introduced pants with riveted pockets —the precursor to the classic jeans.

Key moments in the brand's history:

• 501 Original – the most recognizable jeans model in the world, iconized by rock culture, film and street fashion.

• 1960s and 1970s – Levi's becomes a symbol of counterculture, freedom and a young lifestyle.

• 1990s and 2000s – Levi's jeans enter streetwear, collaborating with artists, designers and lifestyle brands.

• Collaborations with the world of sneakers – collaborations with Nike, Stüssy, New Balance, and in 2018 the first denim Jordans.

The denim version of the Jordan is undoubtedly a fusion of two icons of American culture. The brands' latest collaboration is a proposition for fans of classic styles who appreciate the quality and roots of both basketball and streetwear footwear.