If you watch Vine, Youtube or you have a friend who is a sneakerhead, then you have probably been exposed to the craze surrounding Jordans. Recently there has been a huge upward trend in popularity for the Nike brand, Air Jordan. You have probably also heard expressions like “Tiptoeing in my Jordans” or been scolded by a friend who won’t let you go anywhere near them. So what has sparked the craze surroundig these snazzy basketball shoes?

It all started when the greatest basketballer of all time signed a shoe deal with Nike fresh out of college in 1984. You all know what happened next: Michael Jordan grew to be the “Jordan” we know today, quickly becoming the most popular basketball player to ever step on a court. His superstar status came along with his own shoe design, and soon the Air Jordan brand became the staple among shoe aficionados, and all other shoes became obsolete. Nike was already the dominant brand, making Air Jordan the best of the best.

The hype surrounding Jordans has taken on a life of it’s own. Because they are made in limited numbers, the shoes sell out almost instantly. This results in people lining  up hours in advance to buy the newly released shoes, which usually cost upwards of $200. Most will promptly resell their coveted Jordans  for hundreds more, and sometimes they will sell at auctions for thousands of dollars.

Due to the insane popularity of the shoes, “His Airness” has reaped in the the astounding benefits. In 2013, Jordan made $90 million off of his shoe sales alone. He has also achieved billionaire status this year after his National Basketball Association (NBA) team, the Charlotte Hornets, increased its value by about 10%. To put this into perspective, he “only” made about $94 million over his playing career.

There is also plenty of controversy involving the Nike brand, and Jordans in particular. The shoes are mass produced primarily in sweatshops in Indonesia and China. Workers are paid next to nothing in inhumane conditions. All in all, Nike spends about $16 manufacturing a single pair of Air Jordans, which are sold by Nike for an average of around $320, a 2000% markup. Also, amongst reports of deaths in these sweatshops, Jordan simply said that it’s “Not [his] problem.”

Are these slick kicks worth the ridiculous price? Are you willing to support a brand that treats its workers poorly? Does the swag that comes with wearing Jordans outweigh the price and ethics involved? After all, Air Jordans only make you feel fly.