The Air Jordan XII was originally released in 1996. Like many Air Jordan sneakers, its design inspiration came from outside the world of basketball. In this case, it was the Japanese Rising Sun flag, with the stitching on the side panels representing the sun's rays Leather upper with perforations for comfort and breathability Air-Sole unit with Phylon midsole for superior cushioning Rubber outsole with herringbone pattern for traction and durability