Jordan 1

Air Jordan 1

From the beginning, the Jordan 1 was a rulebreaker. The first red and black model, today known as the Bred or Banned colourway, went against the NBA’s regulations, but this only worked in its favour as fans of the developing Michael Jordan admired his defiance in wearing the new basketball shoes. Decades later, the Air Jordan 1 has become one of the most iconic sneakers on the planet and is available in every possible style, the High being the original, the Low and Mid following shortly after. There are men’s and women’s versions, kids’ designs for both boys and girls, youth sneakers and even toddler and baby models. In short, anyone looking for a pair of the definitive signature shoe can find something to suit them.

The colours of the original Air Jordan 1, which was released in 1985, were the red, black and white of Jordan’s first NBA team – the Chicago Bulls. With the player’s reputation on the rise, more than a dozen colourways came out in the Jordan 1’s debut year, including two in the same colours as the Bred – the Chicago and the Black Toe. The others were the blue and black Royal (also known as Royal Blue), the black and grey Shadow, the white and grey Natural Grey (sometimes called the Neutral Grey), a duo of blue and white sneakers – the Storm Blue or Kentucky and the Carolina Blue – four Metallic models and a black and white colourway which has since been given the nickname Panda.

Many of these original sneakers have been the basis for retro Air Jordan 1s, foremost amongst them the Chicago. Those based on it include the vintage-looking Lost and Found – part of the Reimagined series, which honours classic Jordans – and the Heritage, with its dynamic red swooshes. The colour-blocking of the Black Toe has also been emulated on shoes such as the Bred Toe and Royal Toe, the former featuring a red toe box, the latter a blue one. Another is the Shadow Toe, with its muted grey toe, while the Gold Toe, Yellow Toe, Green Toe and Silver Toe all have forefoot colours reflecting their names.

The next OG colourway to inspire new models is the Carolina Blue, whose light blue overlays pay homage to Jordan’s time at the University of North Carolina. Subsequent sneakers employing this colour scheme carry the moniker UNC and are usually decorated in an elegant tone like Powder Blue. Following in its footsteps have been many University Blue designs, which exhibit similar shading. In fact, over the years, lots of Jordan 1s have had this type of blue colour-blocking. The Dark Marina Blue has richly toned overlays, the Game Royal displays a pure blue and the True Blue references a colour from a popular AJ3 model. There is also the faded blue of the Hyper Royal, the gentle-hued Ice Blue and the Obsidian, which combines light blue with dark navy.

While certain AJ1 sneakers have been influenced by those released in 1985, others have taken their design cues from the shoe’s beginnings in basketball. The purple and orange Jordan 1 Lakers is one, and the blue and orange Knicks edition another. Added to these team-based versions are the Diamond, whose construction celebrates the NBA’s 75th anniversary, and the All-Star Chameleon – just one of many to honour the NBA’s annual exhibition game.

A selection of other AJ1s note important events from Michael’s past. 2009’s Chicago Bulls commemorates his 1986 post-season record of 63 points, and 2013’s Laney and its 2023 follow-up, the Reverse Laney, celebrate his days playing for his high school’s junior varsity team. 2015’s orange and black Shattered Backboard marks his incredible 1985 slam dunk, and the Top 3 combines aspects of three popular colourways to note the fact that Jordan was the third overall draft pick when he joined the Bulls. 2018 saw the release of the Rookie of the Year – a High version created to recognise the player’s award-winning first season in the NBA. In 2020, Jordan’s journey from his college days at North Carolina to the beginning of his NBA career was referenced via the UNC to Chicago. His university fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, was honoured in 2022 with the Brotherhood colourway, and the legendary banning of the original Air Jordan 1 was alluded to on the Rebellionaire. The following year, the Skyline came out, its pinky purple colour gradient giving a nod to an iconic image of Jordan performing his unforgettable Jumpman pose.

Although the Jordan 1 was initially designed for use on basketball courts, it has also found a home amongst the skateboarding community. Through the years, many models have been crafted with Nike SB to recognise this fact. Two from 2019 honour the shoe’s connection to the sport, one called LA to Chicago, the other NYC to Paris, in reference to the importance of these cities in the history of both skateboarding and Jordan Brand. Several AJ1s have also been created in collaboration with prominent skaters. In 2014, two Lance Mountain sneakers came out, and in 2019, Eric Koston was involved in designing a duo of Air Jordan 1 SBs.

Jordan Brand has worked with other well-known public figures, including athletes, influencers, music artists and even the football team Paris Saint Germain. Baseball player Derek Jeter’s AJ1s include a finely crafted High and a dichromatic High OG, and pro BMX rider Nigel Sylvester’s off-white sneaker is covered in distinctive scuffs. In 2017, Nike collaborator Serena Williams designed an Air Jordan 1 with striking pink swooshes, and fashion blogger Aleali May crafted the Satin Shadow using materials like corduroy, satin and chenille. 2018 then delivered a stylish collaboration with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, and in 2019, LA fashion designer Melody Ehsani introduced a model that is part of the wider Fearless Ones collection. Rapper Travis Scott has brought about several sneakers since his 2019 Mocha colourway. Notable designs include the Olive, the collaboration with Fragment Design, the Reverse Mocha and the sleek Black Phantom. Another singer to work on the AJ1 is Billie Eilish, who reshaped the Jordan 1 AJKO into a dynamic lime green edition, and Colombian artist J Balvin created his own multicolour sneaker with an eclectic upper resting upon a pastel pink sole.

Luxury fashion houses, boutiques and other organisations have also teamed up with Jordan Brand to craft a variety of compelling shoes. Virgil Abloh’s Off-White™ has paired with Jordan on more than one redesign, while apparel brand Union LA and sneaker boutique Solefly have also released AJ1s. The early 2020s saw luxurious releases such as Dior’s handcrafted Air Jordan 1s and A Ma Maniére’s graceful white sneaker. Then, in 2023, Eastside Golf launched the 1961 model – a pair of golf shoes made in memory of the year the PGA lifted its ban on non-white players – and the Mid SE Space Jam paid homage to the Jordan 11 that Michael wore in the 1996 film. In another Hollywood turn, the Jordan 1 has been seen on the feet of Spider-Man character Miles Morales in the animated movies. An equally colourful Low edition was produced by a patient at the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in 2023, thus adding to the lineup of unique sneakers created there.

Throughout the years, Jordan Brand has worked hard to add to the rich history of the Air Jordan 1 by designing exciting new models. Along with the many football and baseball cleats, there have been women’s sneakers like the Jordan 1 Low Elevate, whose name reflects its use of a platform midsole, and a kids’ shoe called the Sky Jordan 1. Meanwhile, the Jordan 1 85 recreates famous OG designs, including the iconic Georgetown. Others incorporate new materials, for example the Air Jordan 1 Element makes use of waterproof Gore-Tex, while the Acclimate has winterized components. The Jordan 1 KO follows in the footsteps of the 1986 model, the Hand Crafted features 3M reflective elements and the sophisticated Centre Court has encapsulated Air and a Zoom Air unit in its midsole. The Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT maintains a more traditional look while also featuring lightweight Zoom cushioning. The various Craft models, many of which are members of the eccentric Inside Out series, make use of premium materials like patent leather. There are also the Jordan 1 Low SEs – special editions such as the turquoise Barcelona colourway. Then, in the early 2020s, Jordan Brand began to produce FlyEase models to make the shoe more accessible.

Yet more Jordan 1s have been made to recognise earlier designs. For example, the Concord takes its cues from a popular Air Jordan 11 via its shiny black leather overlays and translucent blue outsole, and the Pollen references a Dunk release from 1985. Meanwhile, the charismatic White Cement is a reworking of a classic Air Jordan 3, and the Elephant Print also incorporates that shoe’s signature graphic. Elsewhere, 2023’s Lucky Green recreates the look of the 2009 Air Jordan 1 Retro Celtics, with its green and black overlays, and the silver swooshes and Jordan Wings of the Gorge Green evoke the look of the CO.JP Midnight Navy from 2001. The storied CO.JP was also referenced with the silver and grey Tokyo. Its city-based design sits alongside the refined Paris model, which was influenced by the architecture of the French capital, and the Milan, whose look was inspired by the city’s gothic buildings.

In addition to those Jordan 1s inspired by past sneakers, there have been many other desirable colourways. There are elegant all-white and all-black designs alongside those like the Sail, whose singular off-white hue is accented with bright red branding. Others have two-tone uppers, including the graceful Tan, the black and grey Twist, the elegant Wolf Grey and the dapper Palomino. Then there are those that add a third colour, such as the Linen, whose white underlayer is overlaid with beige and grey panels. Several come with classy greyscale colour schemes, such as the appealing Stealth, the suave Stage Haze and the sought-after Light Smoke Grey. The Bleached Coral low-top dons hints of muted pink, and the Seafoam has subtle touches of orange on its laces. The Volt opts for larger colourful panels in its titular lime green, and soft pink appears on the Atmosphere or Bubble Gum colourway. The Crimson Tint features similar rosy tones, as do the various Valentine’s Day designs. Some AJ1s have bold colour schemes, including the bright orange Starfish, the violet-coloured Court Purple and the Taxi, with its blend of yellow and black colour-blocking. Meanwhile, those such as the Gym Red and the Pine Green go for darker tones. Intriguing patterns appear on colourways like the Air Jordan 1 Tie Dye, and alternative materials bring pleasant textures to the Heirloom, with its black twill underlayer and tan leather overlays. The Low OG Coconut Milk has a soft textile upper along with its exposed foam collar and tongue, suede acts as an alternative fabric on the rich brown panels of the Dark Chocolate and the faded overlays of both the Washed Black and Washed Pink, and the popular Dark Mocha employs classy nubuck. There are even models like the stylish Denim, which incorporates the sturdy cotton fabric, and a series of lightweight sneakers that have been built using Nike’s tough Flyknit yarn.

The sheer variety of Air Jordan 1s that exist today speaks to the timeless influence of Michael Jordan’s first signature shoe. While dozens of models have been released in the Jordan line, the iconic 1985 original continues to be a favourite for many fans. With such a strong legacy, the Jordan 1 will no doubt remain in the upper echelons of sneaker culture for years to come.