Jordan 3 SE-T CO.JP ‘Denim’

The classic tones found across this Jordan 3 SE-T CO.JP ‘Denim’ sneaker work perfectly with its fine materials to deliver a compelling colourway. Known for being a Japan exclusive on its initial release, it also harbours some intriguing details that reference this fact. Its foundation is a sturdy rubber outsole with white covering the blocky structures supporting its edges and the smooth section in the centre of the heel, and a cone-shaped black piece below the forefoot whose concentric circle grip patterns allow easy twists and turns. Capping the toe are the familiar embossed stars, while Fire Red Nike branding lands beneath the heel for an eye-catching effect.

While the outsole allows the wearer to walk with confidence, the midsole brings lightweight comfort through its polyurethane construction and the pocket of Air in the heel. This latter feature is visible behind a clear window in each side of the midsole, whose bulky exterior is white along the bottom and the front half of its top layer, with black filling out the part that curves around the back of the foot. At the other end, the toe is covered with white rubber, and a band of white stitching decorates its upper edge.

More elegant tones coat the upper, whose main overlay is made from high-quality white tumbled leather. The same colour can be found on the mudguard that extends along the flanks and around the front of the foot, before elephant-print overlays cap both the toe and heel. These traditional AJ3 panels are made of premium raw denim, which Japan is famous for producing, and carry two subtly different shades of grey that form the exotic animal print upon the surface of each overlay.

This effect returns on the upper part of the eyestay, which is set behind the main leather overlay as it recedes a little from the edge of the tongue. Three white TPU semi-circles rise from this elephant-print panel on each side of the tongue to provide eyelets for the white laces to pass through. As they move further down the foot, they are accommodated by Fire Red ringlets set into the white overlay as it cuts back in towards the tongue. At the other end, black pieces of TPU in the front of the collar offer the wearer an additional lacing option.

Inside the shoe, the black lining gives way to a white insole with Fire Red CO.JP text printed onto it beside a Jumpman in the same striking hue. Fire Red also coats the soft padding on the back of the tongue and, back on the outer, shines out along the sides of the collar. Tiny perforations appear in this area and again in the lower half of the tongue, which is white. Its upper half then smooths out to act as the ideal canvas for the Fire Red Jumpman that is embroidered into it.

At the back of the shoe, a translucent white tab enwraps most of the heel, its surface embossed with graspable ridges at the top and a Jumpman on its lower half. The word “Air” shows up in Fire Red below the famous Jordan Brand logo, while behind the see-through tab, a Nike swoosh can be seen along with the name of the brand in Japanese symbols, both effects appearing in Fire Red for an appropriately radiant conclusion to this standout Air Jordan design.