Designed by Tinker Hatfield and released in February 1990, the Air Jordan was once again a trendsetter just like Tinker’s other designs. It was the first ever shoe to have a reflective 3M tongue, the first to feature a clear rubber outsole, and the first shoe with a molded ankle collar.
The flames on the midsole were inspired by a World War II Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII British fighter plane nicknamed the “grey nurse shark” that added a new element to the shoe and the possibilities of placing different vibrant colors on the said piece.
In his 1989-90 season, Michael Jordan lead the Chicago Bulls to their best record ever finishing at 55-27 in this very shoe. Four models of the Air Jordan V were released to the public while two specific models limited to 100 pairs each namely the Black/Black-Metallic Silver and White/Fire Red-Black had the “23” insignia on the side. These pairs were donated to charity. In 1990, the AJV debuted with a price tag of $125.00.