The Air Jordan 3 Retro "Crimson," style 136064-005, uses electric Bright Crimson and Canyon Purple to push a black leather classic far beyond its original Bulls-era palette.
Released on February 23, 2013, the colorway arrived at a recorded $160 retail price. Its black leather upper is interrupted by reflective paneling, bright lace and eyelet details, purple-tinted elephant print and a clean white midsole. The shoe is unmistakably an Air Jordan 3, yet its fluorescent accents place it firmly within the experimental color language of the early 2010s.
The model that changed the direction of Air Jordan
Tinker Hatfield designed the Air Jordan 3 for the 1987-88 season and gave the line several elements that became permanent parts of Jordan identity. It was the first Air Jordan to use the Jumpman as a major exterior logo, the first to expose Nike Air in the heel, and the model that introduced elephant-print overlays around the toe and heel. A mid-cut collar gave Michael Jordan freedom around the ankle while keeping enough structure for basketball, and the visible cushioning made performance technology part of the visual story.
That architecture is why a non-original colorway can still feel connected to the earliest Jordan years. The broad leather surfaces provide a stable field for color, while the elephant print creates a second pattern layer. On Crimson, the black base compresses the silhouette visually and lets every bright detail carry more weight. The white midsole prevents the lower half from becoming too dark and keeps the visible Air window easy to read.
Bright Crimson, Canyon Purple and reflective contrast
Bright Crimson appears as a sharp red-orange signal rather than a traditional Chicago red. Canyon Purple modifies the elephant-print areas and outsole, giving the shoe a cooler counterpoint. Reflective paneling adds a change that may be subtle in ordinary light but becomes much stronger under direct flash. Together, those decisions turn familiar AJ3 components into a layered night-time palette without changing the silhouette's fundamental panel map.
Release archives consistently connect 136064-005 with Black, Bright Crimson and Canyon Purple and document February 23, 2013 as the United States date. GOAT also identifies leather construction, visible Air technology and Tinker Hatfield as designer. Because later Jordan 3 releases have used black uppers and bright accents, the exact style code and purple-inflected elephant print are especially important when identifying this 2013 pair.
How to verify this exact release
Jordan releases are often issued in adult, grade-school, preschool and toddler sizing, and those versions can use different style codes even when their photographs look similar. The most dependable identifier for this product is 136064-005. Check that code against the box label, the documented color sequence and the correct size category. A nickname is useful for discovery, but it is not a substitute for the SKU because informal names are sometimes reused by stores and marketplaces.
Next, compare the product photographs with the documented construction. Look at the upper material, panel colors, tongue and heel branding, midsole treatment and outsole finish. Original retail prices and release dates below are historical references rather than promises about the current market. The linked Loryxen Shoes product page shows the live image, price and available sizes for this exact item, while the cited sources support the historical and technical record used in this article.
Condition, fit and present-day use
Any pair should be judged as the product it is today, not only as the release described in an archive. Materials, foam, rubber and adhesive can change during storage, especially on older retros, while sizing and internal construction may vary across adult and youth editions. Inspect photographs closely, ask for current condition information when needed and choose the listed size rather than assuming that every Jordan model fits identically. Performance technology also ages: a historically important basketball design can remain collectible even when a fresh modern shoe is the more dependable choice for demanding court play.
Release details at a glance
- Model: Air Jordan 3 Retro Crimson
- Style code: 136064-005
- Colorway: Black / Bright Crimson / Canyon Purple
- Release date: February 23, 2013
- Original retail price: $160
- Upper: Black leather with reflective detailing
- Designer: Tinker Hatfield
Crimson is a clear record of the Air Jordan 3 operating outside its original palette. Bright color, reflective material and purple elephant print energize the 1988 architecture without weakening the visible Air, Jumpman and textured overlays that made the model historic.
Research note: This original editorial was prepared from the verified product record and the linked sources. Regional launch timing can differ, and current availability and pricing may change. Sources: GOAT: Air Jordan 3 Crimson archive; Sneaker Bar Detroit: 2013 release record; Nike franchise history: Air Jordan 3.
