Jordan Brand Outfits the Air Jordan 9 in a Polished “Particle Grey”

The design is built on layers, which is emphasised here by different shades and textures on each panel. From the top down, the main vamp uses smooth black nubuck and retains the quilted stitching along the medial and lateral sides, which is cinched down with the hooked lace hardware. Bordering that is the namesake ‘Particle Grey’ leather mudguard, wrapping into the heel and ankle.

The toothed midsole is colour matched, but its foam surface means it has a different finish to the mudguard. And under the midsole is a crisp white outsole with minimal black Jumpman branding. There are also a couple of ‘University Red’ inserts on the heel logo and tongue branding, which gave this colourway its nickname when first revealed, but ‘Particle Grey’ now seems to be its new moniker.