The Air Jordan 21 dropped in 2006 with the intention of highlighting Michael Jordan’s passions. Much like the Jordan 18, his interest in motor sports and Italian-made dress shoes with premium leather and high-quality suede were at the forefront of the 21’s design.Designer D’wayne Edwards was called upon to design the luxurious Air Jordan XXI. It featured a full grain leather upper, a diamond quilted inner bootie, grille-like lower foot vents and a molded heel counter. The shoe also came with a cipher message that could only be seen under a blacklight.From first glance, the Air Jordan XXI is recognized as an item of luxury. Even at the core, comfort was a defining AJ XXI characteristic — but in no way was performance sacrificed. An Independent Podular System let players choose between Zoom and Encapsulated Air. Other features included a seamless inner-sleeve for comfort and a carbon fiber shank plate for lightweight support.