Back in 2007, Jordan Brand released the “Pure Money” Air Jordan 3 Retro. The Pure Money nickname came from the “Pure $” found behind the heel tab of this Air Jordan 3 Retro. Or was it one of Spike Lee’s nicknames for the GOAT??
Basically, this the triple white version of the iconic AJ3. But what’s genius about it is that it released in a time that was more frequently filled with obnoxiously loud color combinations. The Pure Money AJ3 stood out from the crowd because of its timing. The slight differences in textures and shades of white allowed the Elephant Print design of the mudguard areas to stand out in an understated way. Chrome details on the Jumpman logo and top lace eyelet also added a subtle touch of bling, while Metallic Silver helped offer additional branding when viewed from a distance. The most noticeable detail of the Pure Money Jordan 3 is the Elephant Print laces. This was one of the first instances where the iconic print from Tinker Hatfield made its way onto laces. Nowadays, entire companies exist based primarily off the creativity this shoe sparked. The Jordan Pures weren’t difficult to cop when they released back then but as we approach the 10 year mark, they are available with much less frequency. With athletes like Nate Robinson, James Harden and Russell Westbrook wearing them on court, and celebrities like Jay Z and Mark Wahlberg being spotted by the paparazzi in them, it’s no wonder this tasteful homage to the classic Air Jordan 3 can still fetch top dollar.
