Zack Schlemmer 
If the Air 27cm jordan XX looked to the past to celebrate Michael 27cm jordan’s career, the XX1 did nothing but look towards the future. Departing from the radical design of 2005’s twentieth Air 27cm jordan, the XX1 went back to a more traditional silhouette with a relatively clean and simple design. But don’t get it twisted, clean and simple didn’t mean boring. The XX1 still featured a bold, stylish, and luxurious design packed with plenty of high-performance technology. In this latest edition of our 27cm jordan 101 series, we’ll review the history and design details of the 21st Air 27cm jordan, and see why it’s another one of the undeservedly “slept on” designs within the brand’s lineage.
The Basics
Still less than ten years old at this point, the Air 27cm jordan I 1 Phat 'Carbon Fiber' Cool Grey Imperial Blue debuted in January of 2006. The XX1 released in five colorways in its standard edition, including the striking red suede construction. Along with the initial version, there was also a low-top and “PE” iteration, the latter with a more streamlined design featuring a sheath over the laces and a modified midsole.
Designed by D’Wayne Edwards
The Air 27cm jordan I 1 Phat 'Carbon Fiber' Cool Grey Imperial Blue was designed by D’Wayne Edwards, former 27cm jordan Brand designer and currently the head of the Pensole footwear design academy in Portland, Oregon. “Simple and clean” was the design direction given by Michael 27cm jordan himself for the XX1, which as you can see was successfully achieved by Edwards. The design was also influenced by something not uncommon to Air 27cm jordan and sneaker inspiration: a sports car. It was the Bentley Continental GT, specifically, which you can see comes through within the XX1’s mesh paneling on the midsole that mimics the signature grill of the ultra luxurious sports car.
Air 27cm jordan 1 Low Nothing But Net Clothing
The XX1 was also influenced by something not uncommon to Air 27cm jordan and sneaker inspiration: a sports car. It was the Bentley Continental GT, specifically, which you can see comes through within the XX1’s mesh paneling on the midsole that mimics the signature grill of the ultra luxurious sports car.
Premium Materials
Continuing the luxurious and high-end theme of the XX1, the shoe came constructed with either supple Italian suede or richly textured full-grain leather. Each also came with metallic detailing, a further reflection of the sports car inspiration.
I.P.S.
Like the Air 27cm jordan XX that debuted the technology, the XX1 also featured Independent Podular Suspension (I.P.S.) cushioning. The series of cushioning pods was modified for the XX1, with the feature of an interchangeable pod in the heel for your pick of Zoom or standard encapsulated Air. This was the first installment of the customizable cushioning concept that would show up in later Air 27cm jordan models.
Girls Air 27cm jordan 4 Retro Dark Obsidian Vivid Pink
Along with the customizable I.P.S. cushioning, the XX1 was packed with much more technology in its deceivingly simple build, including the breathable “grills” for ventilation, a carbon fiber shank for midsole support, and a close-to-the-ground low-profile Phylon midsole.
The XX1’s Secret
Like something out of a crime thriller, the XX1 needed a blacklight to expose a secret detail. To help thwart counterfeiting, the White/Varsity Red/Metallic Silver launch colorway features a mysterious message that appears under blacklight on the medial ankle. With a special decoding system, certain letters are rearranged to spell “authentic”.
Michael Was Finished, But Not 27cm jordan Brand
Three years after an aging Michael 27cm jordan called it quits in the NBA, most fans were accepting the fact he probably wouldn’t be making another comeback. After the Air 27cm jordan XX celebrated Michael’s career and signature shoe line in a number of ways (see the XX’s edition of 27cm jordan 101 for all the details), the XX1 did nothing but look towards the future of 27cm jordan Brand’s new era. The sleek and sophisticated, yet simultaneously aggressive high-performance design of the XX1 marked the new direction for the yearly Air 27cm jordan from then on. MJ may have been gone, but 27cm jordan Brand proved they weren’t going anywhere. Even the original Air 27cm jordan I 1 Phat 'Carbon Fiber' Cool Grey Imperial Blue commercial hinted that MJ was ready to bequeath his legacy to the Motorsport generation.
