Air Jordan Countdown Pack 11/12

The Air Jordan Countdown is continuing as Nike keeps chalking off the list in their last run of production on the famed line of sneakers.  The 11/12 pack was originally set to release on December 26 but it looks like Sneaker Files is now saying that Nike has changed the release to December 20.  Either way, the Jordan 11 and Jordan 12 are some of the most coveted sneaks in the collection so I'm sure the holiday market will be splashed.

Nike's Latest Environmental Effort: Air Jordan XX3

Nike is releasing the Air Jordan XX3 with a different spin than the other iterations of the classic basketball sneaker. The potentially last Jordan model to be released is being constructed using almost no adhesives at all, and is being constructed like a jigsaw puzzle. Being sewn together and not glued is part of the "Nike Considered approach," that uses environmentally-preferable materials, reduces toxic chemicals and curbs waste.

Hannah Jones, Nike's vice president of corporate responsibility, told Fortune that the Air Jordan XX3 demonstrates that environmental considerations need not require compromises in design or performance. Her hope, she said, is that the new sneakers will influence not only other Nike shoes, but the rest of the footwear industry, too. She said the Air Jordan XX3 is the equivalent of "a Tesla, not a Prius," referring to the $98,000, all-electric, luxury sports car being made by Tesla Motors.

"Too often 'green' means less of a consumer experience," Jones said. "If you sacrifice performance or style, you're doing a disservice to the consumer and to the sustainability movement."

Click here for the full article about the Jordans.

Head over to this article to find an interesting graphic describing the different recycled materials used to make different parts of the Nike Pegasus, a running shoe at the forefront of the "Nike Considered" movement.

Clicking on the top image will take you to CNN's video player to watch Hannah Jones discuss the making of the new Jordan.  (Thanks to CNN for removing their video embed option)

Nike Air Max 95 Fresh Water

Though it won't be a fully comprehensive set of coming sneaker releases, I had to squeeze this one in because of my affinity for the mid- 90's Air Max collection.

The '95 and '97 Air Max lines have always been a highly sought after collection of Nikes, probably only trailing Air Jordans and Air Force Ones in terms of street popularity.

The above Air Max '95 Fresh Water design is set to hit stores in April 2009, according to Sneaker Files. We are just starting to get peaks at Nike's summer plans for next year, and this is definitely one of the hottest leaks I've seen.