"The ceiling is the roof!" – 🐐
Those fabled words uttered by Michael Jordan while on the campus of the University of North Carolina has truly and organically found itself etched into the arc of the Air Jordan retros that bear the Tar Heel colors. We're no strangers to the 'UNC' palette, however the uptick in recent years from the Air Jordan 3 to the Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 6 – we are treated in 2023 to the UNC iteration of the Jumpman Team series with the Air Jordan 5.
The heel tag is a play on the jock tag from the '90s and early '00s found on Nike uniforms, and has made its appearance on each collegiate themed Air Jordan 5 Retro beginning with the general release, to-market version of the 'Oregon' and 'Michigan' drops. And also finding a cameo role on the 2021 'UNC' Air Jordan 6 Retro.
The smooth nubuck suede upper is dripped in a beautiful University Blue and features bountiful University Blue touches throughout – from the textured lining to the speckles on the shark teeth along the black midsole. And etched into the twill inner tongue tag is "SOUL." – a nod to the words of N.C. Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand (1961) who viewed UNC's competitive advantage, uniqueness and mission, defining it as "Carolina's soul". A deep cut, Easter egg and keen detail indeed.
The 'UNC' Air Jordan 5 Retro is set to drop on Saturday, March 4th at various retailers including Sneaker Politics.
Air Jordan 5 Retro SE "UNC"
University Blue/Black-White
DV1310-401
3. 4. 23.
$225
