Side Kicks Streetwear • Global Release Guide
Updated: 17 April 2026
About the release
The Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' is one of those releases that collectors have been waiting on for nearly two decades. Originally created as a women's sample in 2007 during Jordan Brand's LS era, the colourway never made it to retail. It has existed since in sample photos and collector circles, building its own quiet legend in the process.
Now, almost twenty years later, it finally gets its public debut. The Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' releases as a women's exclusive on 23 April 2026 for £190, staying largely true to the original sample with a white leather base, vibrant orange elephant print overlays, Fire Red Jumpman branding and an orange rubber outsole.
Style code CK9246-101 drops via Nike SNKRS and select retailers. For collectors who missed the SoleFly x Air Jordan 3, this is the closest thing to a proper orange AJ3 at a retail price point.
TL;DR – Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' Release Date, Price & Where to Buy
- Release date: 23 April 2026
- Model: Air Jordan 3
- Colourway: White / Cement Grey / Fire Red / Multi-Color
- Style code: CK9246-101
- UK retail price: £190
- US retail price: $205
- Sizing: Women's exclusive
- Where to buy: Nike SNKRS and select retailers
- Key detail: Based on an unreleased 2007 sample, orange elephant print overlays, perforated mudguard, orange outsole
Release date and price
The Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' releases on Thursday 23 April 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers in women's sizing.
UK retail is £190 and US retail is $205. As a women's exclusive with a strong sample backstory, demand is expected to move quickly at launch.
Design and details
The upper builds on a white tumbled leather base, staying close to the original sample construction. The standout feature is the vibrant orange elephant print that wraps the toe and heel overlays, pulling the citrus theme through the two most prominent design elements on the AJ3 silhouette. The same orange bleeds into the collar lining and the rubber outsole, giving the shoe a colour-coded coherence from upper to sole.
Cement Grey lands on the plastic eyelets and TPU details for contrast, while Fire Red Jumpman branding hits the tongue, sockliner and heel panel. One of the more distinctive construction details on this version is the perforated mudguard, a detail you do not typically see on the standard Air Jordan 3 and one that separates this colourway from a straight retro reissue.
Underfoot, a white polyurethane foam midsole houses a visible Max Air bubble in the heel. The orange rubber outsole provides the final colour hit and a clean finish to what is a genuinely well-executed colourway.
Orange elephant print
The elephant print is the most iconic design detail on the Air Jordan 3, introduced by Tinker Hatfield on the original 1988 model. Seeing it in orange rather than the usual cement grey is what makes the 'Orange Citrus' stand out immediately. The print texture is familiar but the colour application is fresh, and it works particularly well against the white leather base because the contrast is strong without feeling forced.
Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' images
Credit: Nike
The 2007 sample story
The 'Orange Citrus' colourway was created in 2007 during Jordan Brand's LS (Lifestyle) era, a period when the brand was experimenting with new colourways and materials across its retro line. The shoe was designed as a women's pair, in line with other colourways from that period such as the 'Harbor Blue', but was ultimately not released at retail.
Photos of the sample circulated in collector communities in the years that followed, building a reputation for the colourway that far outgrew its limited existence. For nearly twenty years, owning an 'Orange Citrus' AJ3 meant tracking down an original sample. The 2026 release changes that, giving collectors their first proper shot at the colourway through standard retail channels.
SoleFly comparison
If the SoleFly x Air Jordan 3 is the reference point for orange AJ3s, the 'Orange Citrus' sits alongside rather than beneath it. The SoleFly collaboration was extremely limited and came with its own premium collab story. The 'Orange Citrus' is more accessible, more true to the original sample and arguably the cleaner of the two from a design standpoint. For collectors who missed SoleFly or could not justify resale prices, this is the orange Air Jordan 3 worth targeting in 2026.
Why this release matters
Jordan Brand has been leaning into archive releases in 2026, reviving samples and colourways that collectors have been tracking for years. The 'Orange Citrus' sits alongside the Jordan 10 'Sacramento' and Jordan 9 'Flint' as examples of that approach working well, bringing something genuinely new to market rather than simply repeating OG retros.
As a women's exclusive it also continues a strong run of women's-led Jordan releases in 2026, sitting alongside the Teyana Taylor 'Concrete Rose' and the 'Denim Pink' Iced Carmine AJ4 as standout drops in that category. The 'Orange Citrus' is the most grounded of the three in terms of design, which is part of its appeal.
Where to buy
The Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' releases on 23 April 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select retailers. Browse the full Air Jordan 3 collection and all Jordan Brand releases on Side Kicks.
FAQ
When is the Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' release date?
The Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' releases on Thursday 23 April 2026 via Nike SNKRS and select retailers.
How much does the Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' cost in the UK?
UK retail price is £190. US retail is $205.
What is the style code for the Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus'?
The style code is CK9246-101.
Is the Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' a women's release?
Yes. The Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' is a women's exclusive release.
What is the Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' based on?
The colourway is based on a 2007 sample created during Jordan Brand's LS era that was never released at retail. The 2026 version marks its first public release, almost twenty years after it was originally designed.
How does the Air Jordan 3 'Orange Citrus' compare to the SoleFly collab?
The SoleFly x Air Jordan 3 was extremely limited and came with a collab story and premium pricing. The 'Orange Citrus' is a wider retail release based on a 2007 sample, making it more accessible and arguably the cleaner design of the two for collectors who want an orange AJ3 at retail price.
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