The Air Jordan 3 A Ma Maniere release is right around the corner, with a release date scheduled for the 22nd of May. With the booming popularity of intentionally aged sneakers, the Maniere 3’s vintage-inspired design aspects make it a shoe-in for the Sneaker of the Year conversation.
When it comes to A Ma Maniere, the beauty is always within the details. The brand’s history and storytelling make this one a super special release. We take a look into the history of the brand and how this collab came about.
What Is A Ma Maniere?
A Ma Maniere, which translates to “My Way” in French, is a luxury fashion boutique that celebrates Parisian culture. Founded by fashion entrepreneur James Whitner, the store prides itself on quality, exclusivity, and the ability to express honesty through its brand integrity. The brand now has three stores across America, each tailored towards its target audience. They have built a reputation that earned them the privilege of collaborating with Jordan Brand on the Air Jordan 3.
A Brief History Of Previous Collaborations
While the latest Jordan collab has garnered mass attention, A Ma Maniere is not new to the collaboration game. Previous collabs are indicators of Whitner’s clear brand vision and attention to detail that we see on the Jordan 3…
Diadora (2016)
Perhaps the least known collaboration to come from Whitner and A Ma Maniere was with Diadora. Diadora isn’t particularly well known for its sneaker releases, so it was great to see some hype surround the brand, thanks to this partnership. The shoes featured premium materials throughout and came in a Brown Sugar and Novelle Peach colourway, giving off some serious Hender Scheme vibes. The retail price was high (around the $300 mark) but Whitner’s high standards and premium use of materials are worth the price tag. A seriously underrated silhouette from the Whitner camp.
Adidas (2017 + 2019)
Whitner has linked up with Adidas on three different silhouettes. The duo released a triple white Ultra Boost 4.0 and a monochrome take on the NMD back in 2017. It was the release in 2019, however, that caught the attention of ‘heads across the globe. Dubbed the Crazy BYW Low, the silhouette actually drew inspiration from Kobe Bryant’s signature shoe, the Crazy 8, but the aesthetic itself looked as though it had been plucked straight from the Yeezy design studios.
Unfortunately, the sneaker did not resonate with the sneaker community. You can now pick up a pair for way below retail.
Nike and Jordan Brand (2019)
2019 proved to be a fruitful year for the A Ma Maniere team. Multiple sneakers released with Nike and Jordan Brand, too. A Jordan Proto Max 720 basketball sneaker released under the name Atlanta Nights, honouring where the first A Ma Maniere store was located. The sneaker featured a full air unit and was dressed head to toe in black. This stealthy approach to sneakers carried over to the Nike pack, too.
Three Air Force 1s released under the collaboration, too. The high version and one pair of the lows featured a combination of premium materials in black and grey hues. Each pair of the lows came numbered to emphasise the exclusivity of the shoe, with only 5914 pairs releasing.
The main attraction from the Nike x A Ma Maniere collaboration was the Friends and Family Air Force 1. This shoe came covered in plush, black suede. As Whitner states on the A Ma Maniere website:
“The shoe tells a story of giving back with inspiration taken from the idea of continued black excellence as the sneaker is dressed in an all-black colourway. Designed for wearability by street kids, inspired by luxury.”
The three Air Force 1s were named the Hand Wash Cold pack. The nickname was not simply a care instruction. Instead, it was to remind us all to treat the things we care about with respect. A great message that retailers don’t often spread.
The Idea Behind The Jordan Collaboration
The latest collaboration between Jordan Brand and Whitner’s A Ma Maniere sees the duo produce one of the finest Air Jordan 3’s we have seen release. The sneaker is crafted from luxurious materials from top to bottom, perfectly reflecting the brand’s premium ethos.
Over the years, sneaker customisers have intentionally aged sneakers to give off the vibe that they are from a previous era. It started with Air Jordan 1s but has since spread like wildfire, with any sneaker given the retro treatment instantly boosting its appeal to many. For whatever reason, sneakerheads worldwide are obsessed with the vintage look on sneakers, and Whitner most definitely capitalised on this.
This AJ3 isn’t as simple as merely capitalising on a movement within the industry, though. The attention to detail from Whitner and A Ma Maniere shows just how deep they are within the sneaker culture. They went above and beyond to ensure the aesthetics of this AJ3 were as accurate as could be, making this shoe one of the finest examples of an intentionally aged sneaker we have ever seen.
A Breakdown Of The Silhouette
The exceptionally luxurious sneaker features tumbled white leather underlays combined with plush suede panels in grey. You can see co-branding throughout the design of the shoe. The A Ma Maniere and Jumpman logo both feature on the tongue of the shoes. Cream accents throughout, giving the shoe that premium, vintage feel mentioned above.
Tinker Hatfields legendary air bubble design has become a mainstay for the Jordan 3 and features on this upcoming version. The intentionally yellowed sole unit completes the design and successfully nails the vintage look the duo aimed to hit. This sneaker is an absolute must-have.
So there you have it, a breakdown on all things A Ma Maniere. If you are looking to pick up a pair of the potential Sneaker of the Year, click the link below to find your size.