Air Jordan 13 Celebrates the Chinese New Year With Coin Embossed Upper

With the calendar is set to flip to 2020, Jordan Brand has readied a new Air Jordan 13 “CNY” in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Playing with tone, texture and construction, this special iteration of Michael Jordan‘s 13th signature sneaker combines innovation and tradition in equal measures, all while sending 2019 off in style.

Crafted from an elegant ivory nubuck, the shoe’s high-cut upper features an all-over embossed Chinese coin graphic. The circles and diamond-shaped prints that make up this embellishment add a lifestyle-ready look to the Tinker Hatfield-designed silhouette, and also call to mind images of the classical Chinese embellishments present on CLOT‘s Air Jordan 13 Low “Terracotta” from 2018.

Although this print may be the design’s foremost detail, there’s plenty more special stylings to be had here as well. Tongues present a yin-yang style black and white circular Jumpman badge, a recognizable cat’s-eye jewel appears towards the heel, and wheat suede underlays/midsoles provide a palatable contrast. Finishing pops of style are then provided by a hot pink outsole and alternating insoles that use a similar pink hue on the left foot and switch to an all-over coin print on the right foot. Zoom Air is also loaded into the midsole for signature comfort.

The Air Jordan 13 “CNY” is set to release on Nike SNKRS CN come December 31, with a MSRP of $200 USD.

Before the 2010s draw to a close, be sure to take a look at our Most Influential Sneakers of the Decade list, a compilation of the most important releases from the last 10 years.