The shoe that changed sneakers forever

For many collectors, sneaker culture begins with one shoe: the high-top basketball sneaker made for a young Michael Jordan in 1985. A Jordan-inspired rug celebrates that moment and everything that followed, classic high-tops in bold red, black and white, the crackled elephant-print texture of later models, the lines of a basketball court and the number 23. It's the perfect rug for a sneaker room, a teenager's bedroom or a basketball fan's den. Ours are printed edge to edge on soft velvet, so bold colors and fine textures come out crisp, and every rug goes in the washing machine. To be clear from the start: these are independent designs inspired by sneaker and basketball style, not Jordan Brand or Nike products, and they don't use their logos.

A short history

Michael Jordan signed his first shoe deal as a rookie in 1984, and his first signature sneaker arrived the following year. It sold far beyond expectations and launched one of the most successful lines in sports history. In 1988, designer Tinker Hatfield gave the third model a visible air cushion and a crackled elephant-print overlay, a texture fans still love. On the court, Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, wearing number 23. Today, the line is its own brand, and its classic colorways are among the most collected sneakers in the world.

Designs inspired by the culture

Design	The look	Best in
Classic high-top	A high-top sneaker silhouette in bold colorways	Sneaker rooms, teen bedrooms
Elephant print	Grey crackled texture with red or black	Sneaker rooms, entryways
Basketball court	Key, three-point arc and center circle	Game rooms, kids' rooms
Chicago skyline	The city skyline in red and black	Dens, living rooms
Number 23	A bold jersey number in red and black	Teen rooms, man caves

The number 23 is the simplest choice for a teen room, while the elephant print suits a sneaker collector who knows the classics.

Colorways

Sneaker fans love to talk in colorways: the classic red, white and black of Chicago; black and red; royal blue and black; white with cement grey. A rug inspired by a favorite colorway, a high-top silhouette in those colors or simple color blocks pulled from the shoe, is a personal design for a collector, and it ties a display of sneakers together beautifully.

Elephant print

The crackled grey elephant-print texture is one of the most recognizable patterns in sneaker history. On a rug, it's a subtle, graphic texture that suits an entryway, a sneaker room or a modern bedroom, and it pairs perfectly with a red or black accent. Our elephant-print designs are our own textures inspired by that look.

The court

A basketball court seen from above, the key, the free-throw line, the three-point arc and the center circle, is a natural Jordan-inspired design. In hardwood with red and black paint, it feels just like the floor of a 1990s arena. For more, see our basketball rugs.

Chicago

For fans of the 1990s Bulls dynasty, Chicago itself is part of the story. A Chicago skyline rug in bold red and black, with the city's towers against the lake, is a stylish, grown-up design for a den or a living room, and a nod to a legendary era of basketball.

Number 23

Few jersey numbers in all of sports are as famous as 23. A bold 23 in red and black on a round rug, or a jersey-style design with your own name above your own number, makes a striking rug for a teen's room or a basketball fan's man cave. Through our custom rugs, the number and name can be anything you like.

The 1990s dynasty

The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s were one of the greatest teams in sports history: two runs of three straight championships, from 1991 to 1993 and from 1996 to 1998, and a 72-win regular season in 1995–96. For fans who grew up watching those Finals, a red and black rug with the Chicago skyline or a vintage hardwood court is pure nostalgia.

Displaying a sneaker collection

Serious collectors know that how sneakers are displayed matters. Keep pairs out of strong direct sunlight, which can yellow soles and fade colors, store boxes somewhere cool and dry, and give each display pair a little space. A rug in the room's main colorway, under clear shelves or glass cases, makes the whole collection look curated.

Colors

The palette is classic and bold: red, black and white, with royal blue, cement grey and a touch of gold. A black and red rug suits a dramatic sneaker room; a white and grey elephant print suits a cleaner, modern space; a red court suits a game room.

Kids' rooms

For young basketball fans, a court rug or a bold 23 makes a bedroom feel like an arena. On a hard floor, choose Standard so the rug stays put when kids practice their moves. Our kids play rugs page has more ideas.

Entryways

Just inside the front door, where sneakers come off, a small elephant-print or court rug makes a stylish welcome. Keep it indoors, out of the weather, and choose Standard for its grip.

Gifts

A Jordan-inspired rug is a great gift for a sneakerhead, a high school basketball player, a coach or a lifelong Bulls fan. A classic high-top silhouette is the safest choice; a custom jersey rug with their name and number is the most personal.

Sneaker rooms

A sneaker room is all about display: well-lit shelves or glass cases, plain walls and a rug in the center that ties the collection together. A 4×6 or 5×7 ft rug in a classic colorway works best. For more, see our sneaker rugs, our Nike-inspired rugs and our hypebeast and streetwear rugs.

Teen bedrooms

For teenagers who love basketball and sneakers, a Jordan-inspired rug is an easy way to give a bedroom personality: white or grey walls, a few framed jerseys, sneakers on display and a bold rug at the foot of the bed. For the softest bedside rug, choose Premium, 7 mm plush velvet on a bamboo and cotton back, about 700 g/m²; under a desk chair, choose Standard: 5 mm crushed velvet on a non-slip faux leather back, about 500 g/m², which stays put and lets wheels roll freely. Our bedroom rugs page has more layouts.

Game rooms and man caves

In a game room or a man cave, a court or Chicago skyline rug in front of the TV is the perfect spot to watch the playoffs. Pair it with a comfortable sofa, a few framed jerseys and a display of sneakers. Our man cave rugs page has more ideas.

Round and shaped rugs

A round rug with a basketball, a center-court circle or a bold 23 is a great choice under a desk chair. Round rugs come from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across. Our shaped rugs can also be cut to the outline of a high-top sneaker, in sizes from 2.6×2.6 up to 5.2×5.9 ft (80×80 to 160×180 cm).

Offices and studios

For a sneaker designer, a sports writer or simply a fan working from home, a Jordan-inspired rug under the desk keeps the culture close. Under a desk chair, choose Standard in 3.3×5 or 4×6 ft, which stays put and lets wheels roll freely.

Your own design

Want a high-top in your own colorway, a jersey with your name and number or a court in your team's colors? Our custom rugs can print it in any size up to 5′11″ × 10′. Please only send artwork you're allowed to use, which rules out brand logos you don't own; your own names, numbers and colors are all fine. Custom rugs can't be returned.

Standard or Premium

Standard is best under desk chairs, in sneaker rooms, entryways and anywhere with a hard or slippery floor, because its non-slip back stays put. Premium is softer and warmer, best in bedrooms and lounges. Both are printed the same way, so reds stay bold and textures stay crisp, and both go in the washing machine.

Sizes, shipping and returns

Rectangles come in 2×3, 2.6×3.9, 3.3×5, 4×6 and 5×7 ft. Round rugs come from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across, and shaped rugs from 2.6×2.6 up to 5.2×5.9 ft (80×80 to 160×180 cm). Custom sizes go up to 5′11″ × 10′. Every rug is printed to order in 1–3 business days and ships from Turkey; US delivery usually takes 2–5 business days after that. Unused rugs can be returned within 30 days on US orders; custom rugs can't be returned.

Care

Machine wash on a gentle, cold cycle and let it air dry flat. Vacuum on a low setting between washes, and blot spills with cold water right away. The design is printed into the fibers, so your colorway stays fresh, like a deadstock pair kept safely in the box.

A note on the brand

Chicago, 1988

In February 1988, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest was held in Chicago, the city where the Bulls played, and it produced one of basketball's most replayed moments: a dunk taken off from the free-throw line, the player flying the length of the key with his legs spread in midair. The image became shorthand for flight, and it helped turn signature sneakers into a cultural phenomenon.

A rug can capture that idea without any logo or silhouette: a hardwood key with the free-throw line glowing in the middle, a scoreboard reading 1988, or a dotted flight path arcing from the line to the rim under a starry sky. These designs speak to fans who know the story and still look good to anyone who simply loves basketball.

They suit a sneaker room, a teen's bedroom or a game room, especially paired with the colors of that era, red, black and white, and a few framed photos of classic games. Displaying a collection on shelves above a court-style rug turns the room into a small museum of basketball history.

For a parent who grew up watching those games and a child who now wears the shoes, a rug like this connects both generations through a single moment in the air.

A court-style rug also suits a youth basketball team room.

High school and youth coaches sometimes use a court rug in a team room for chalk talks before a game.

Padrift is an independent studio. Jordan is named only to describe the sneaker and basketball style our designs are inspired by. We are not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Jordan Brand, Nike or Michael Jordan, and these rugs are not genuine Jordan products.