# Crystal-Covered Basketball Sneakers These Crystal Air Jordans Celebrate Michael Jordan's Birthday By Riley von Niessen | Published 2017-02-21 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crystal-air-jordan References: [hypebeast](https://hypebeast.com/2017/2/air-jordan-1-black-gold-crystal) & [nike](http://nike.com) With Michael Jordan's 54th birthday falling on February 17th, [Nike's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-max-plus-moonlight) basketball subsidiary that was named after the legend, as well as its fans, have been releasing a number of commemorative models, including a pair of crystal Air Jordan 1s. Daniel Jacob, a fan of Michael Jordan and a sneaker customizer, adapted the model himself and shared the results on [Instagram](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-baller). The extreme luxuriousness of the crystal Air Jordan 1s caught the attention of the brand and media outlets alike and enabled them to go on display at Art Palm Springs, a museum in California. Using a black colorway of the popular model, Jacob covered the uppers in 140,000 hand-set crystals, which give the sneakers a glittery appearance. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.2/10 - Popularity: 86% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Crystal-covered Footwear:** The trend of adding crystals to footwear for a luxurious look and feel. - **Commemorative Sneakers:** The trend of releasing limited edition sneakers to commemorate special events or anniversaries. - **Sneaker Customization:** The trend of customizing sneakers to create unique and personalized designs. ### Where This Applies - **Footwear:** The footwear industry can capitalize on the trend of adding crystals to sneakers and create their own luxurious designs. - **Sports Apparel:** The trend of releasing limited edition sneakers to commemorate special events or anniversaries presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the sports apparel industry. - **Customization Services:** The trend of sneaker customization presents an opportunity for companies to offer customization services for sneakers, allowing customers to create unique designs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Crystal-Encrusted Stealthy Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-max-plus-moonlight.md) - [Ultra-Cushioned Crystal-Covered Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nike-vomero-plus.md) - [Dazzling Crystal-Covered Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/converse-x-swarovski-chuck-70-de-luxe-squared.md) - [Celebratory Dragon-Inspired Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/year-of-the-dragon1.md) - [Basketball Team-Tonal Mid-Cut Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hornetscolored.md) - [Distressed Crackled Leather Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-toe-colorway.md) - [Aged Vintage High-Top Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cinnabar-colorway.md) - [Crystal-Encrusted Collaborative Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chuck-70-low-and-hi.md) - [Building Block Footwear Models](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-air-jordan-11.md)