Air Jordan 1
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “UNC Re-imagined” (2025)
Little-known facts
- First Re-imagined that isn’t a Chicago/Bred spin-off. The UNC is the inaugural “Re-imagined” drop to feature a non-Bulls colourway—proving the line is now bigger than Chicago lore.
- A nod to the 1982 championship ticket. The tissue paper inside the box is printed with the March 29, 1982 NCAA ticket stub—the night MJ hit the game-winner for UNC.
- Oxidised heel cup on purpose. Nike used a light amber tint on the heel stabiliser to mimic aged TPU—subtle but unique to this pair.
- First AJ 1 to use “Dark Powder Blue.” Earlier UNC releases leaned sky blue; 2025’s mix adds a grey undertone for closer match to vintage jerseys.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1985 | OG “UNC/Carolina Blue” AJ 1 releases in Japan & select US college stores. |
| 2015 | First High OG retro with Nike Air tongue tag. |
| 2025 (May 10) | UNC Re-imagined launches in full family sizing for $180. |
Design & materials
The Re-imagined brief is to look “fresh from a ’80s stockroom.” Key touches:
- Cracked white leather quarters – light spider-web creases straight from the box.
- Dark Powder Blue overlays with brushed edges to simulate decades of handling.
- Sail-tinted mid-sole and slightly yellowed heel cup for a pre-aged vibe.
- ’85-shape toe box, higher collar, and a polyester tongue with exposed foam for period accuracy.
Even the box lid swaps UNC blue for aged off-white, matching the mid-sole tint.
On-foot history
Michael never played an NBA game in UNC colors, but photos of him wearing the 1985 pair around Chapel Hill circulated in alumni magazines. The 2025 drop quickly hit social feeds: Drake unboxed them on Instagram Live the night before release, and Caleb Love rocked a pair courtside during UNC’s 2025 ACC opener.
Care tip
Powder-blue patent pens won’t match the darker hue—if you scuff a panel, lightly dab with Angelus UNC Blue acrylic and finish with matte finisher to keep the factory crackle visible. Store with silica packs; excess moisture can deepen the pre-applied yellowing.
Why collectors care
- NCAA nostalgia wrapped in the trendy Re-imagined finish.
- Only the second UNC high since 2015—and the first with vintage detailing.
- Extra storytelling (ticket-print tissue, oxidised parts) elevates it beyond a simple colourway repeat.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Patent Bred” (2021)
Little-known facts
- Family stitched inside. Pull back the black lining and you’ll spot the word “Family” chain-stitched in red—a first for any Bred AJ 1.
- Comes with a metal Jumpman hang-tag. Instead of cardboard, Nike packed a glossy red metal tag that echoes the patent finish.
- Gloss box to match. Even the classic black-and-red AJ 1 lid got a full-shine laminate so the packaging mirrors the upper.
- Not the first patent-leather Bred. Jordan Brand tried the look on a 2003 mid-cut retro and a low-top, but 2021 was the first true High OG treatment.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1985 | Original “Black/Red” (Banned) AJ 1 debuts in smooth leather. |
| 2003 | Mid-cut “Patent Leather” Bred releases with Jumpman branding. |
| 2021 (30 Dec.) | Patent Bred High OG drops globally for $170 via SNKRS draw. |
Design & materials
The shoe swaps every tumbled leather panel for mirror-finish patent leather in classic Varsity Red and black. Original ’85 tooling remains—cup-sole, nylon tongue, Nike Air tongue tag—but the glossy upper is stiffer, so Jordan Brand widened the toe-box a hair for comfort. Extras include:
- Red Jumpman hang-tag (metal)
- Family embroidery behind inner collar
- Gloss-laminated OG box
On-foot history
Within weeks of release, pairs appeared in NBA tunnels on PJ Tucker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; the shoe’s camera-flash shine became a staple in holiday 2021 fit-pics. Sneaker customisers quickly began matting the patent with acetone—proof that collectors still debate glossy vs. OG leather.
Care tip
Patent scuffs show white marks fast. Dab a microfiber cloth in warm water + a drop of dish soap, wipe gently, then buff with a clean dry cloth. To minimise creasing, stuff the toe with shoe trees while cooling; heat guns can warp the patent’s glue layer—avoid.
Why collectors chase it
- First High OG to reinterpret the legendary “Bred” colourway in full patent.
- Limited to a single holiday run; many pairs are already clouded by fingerprint haze, making DS glossy pairs harder to find.
- Extra packaging touches (hang-tag, gloss box, embroidery) elevate it from a standard GR.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Black Toe Re-imagined” (2024 → 2025)
Little-known facts
- Wings logo swap (prototype). Early samples surfaced with the word “AIR JORDAN” printed in block text where the classic Wings crest usually sits. Collectors spotted them in leaked factory photos, but production pairs kept the 1985 crest.
- Release date shuffled twice. Nike first pencilled the drop for 18 Oct 2024, moved it to holiday, and finally shipped on 15 Feb 2025 after factory delays—mirroring the stop-start legacy of the 2016 “Black Toe” retro.
- Black tongue throwback. The Re-imagined uses a black nylon tongue—a nod to Michael Jordan’s own 1985 player-exclusive pairs, which differed from the white-tongued retail version. This detail delights vintage purists and first appeared in fan forums years before Nike confirmed the change.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1985 | OG Black Toe debuts; one of the first AJ 1s MJ wears on-court. |
| 2013 | First “High OG” style retro brings back Nike Air tongue label. |
| 2016 | Widely loved GR retro sells out in minutes, cements hype. |
| 2024 → 2025 | Black Toe Re-imagined announced, delayed, and finally launches 15 Feb 2025. |
Design & materials
- Cracked white leather quarters and collar over-sprayed with matte finish to simulate age.
- Varsity Red heel & outsole slightly desaturated—a first for a Black Toe.
- Black nylon tongue with exposed foam edges and vintage-yellowed label.
- Sail mid-sole + brushed black mudguard replicate decades of light wear.
- ’85-shape tooling: higher collar, slimmer swoosh, straighter mud-guard stitch line.
Packaging mirrors the Lost & Found playbook: scuffed lid graphics, faux hand-priced sticker (“$64.95”), and a stamped “return within 30 days” receipt dated APR 1986.
On-foot history
- 1985: MJ wears a black-tongue PE Black Toe for several early-season games — footage vs. New Jersey Nets confirms the variation.
- 2016: Travis Scott posts an airport fit in the ’16 retro, driving aftermarket prices from $240 to $450 overnight.
- 2025: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander debuts the Re-imagined pair in pre-game tunnel photos two days before retail drop, cementing its “fit pic” status.
Care tip
The matte sealant over the red heel scuffs to a glossy patch if rubbed hard. Use a soft horse-hair brush and mild foam cleaner; skip acetone or alcohol which can remove the vintage effect. Store with shoe trees—patent-style creases show sharply on aged-finish leather.
Why collectors chase it
- Black tongue PE detail finally reaches retail.
- Re-imagined ageing gives the twin “Chicago Lost & Found” vibe in a Bulls away colorway.
- Production delays kept pairs scarce; many boutiques received < 30 men’s sizes, fuelling day-one demand.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Chicago Re-imagined / Lost & Found” (2022)
Little-known facts
- Mismatched lid tells the story. The box pairs a standard black-red AJ 1 base with an orange AJ KO lid to mimic a pair that sat forgotten on a shop shelf and was “re-boxed” years later.
- “Sale” stickers on the tissue. Inside you’ll find throw-back newspaper ads (“2 for $29.99”) referencing 1980s clearance bins where dead-stock pairs were once dumped.
- A faux-aged sales receipt. Nike printed an old-school carbon-copy invoice—complete with a 312 area-code store—to drive home the lost-and-found narrative.
- First Re-imagined drop. The project kicked off a new series that later spawned the 2023 Black Toe and 2025 UNC Re-imagined colourways.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1985 | OG Chicago AJ 1 releases; eventually becomes the most idolised colourway. |
| 1994 & 2015 | Retro runs keep Nike Air branding alive. |
| 2022 (Nov 19) | Lost & Found launches globally for $180; sells out on SNKRS in under two minutes. |
| 2023 | Restock via Nike “Exclusive Access” to address bots and shipping issues. |
Design & materials
- Cracked white leather on collars and quarters—meant to look like a pair dried out in storage.
- Sail-tinted mid-sole & oxidised ankle panels for instant patina.
- Straight ’85 toe-box and higher cut bring the silhouette closer to the original shape.
- Packaging extras: aged tissue ads, mismatched lid, vintage receipt.
On-foot history & cultural moments
- NBA roots: Michael wore the OG Chicago for most of his rookie season, dropping 63 at Boston Garden in a pair.
- Modern comeback: In 2022 the Lost & Found became the most-traded sneaker on resale platforms within six weeks—helped by courtside sightings on Devin Booker and PJ Tucker during opening week.
- Social-media lore: Early pairs showed intentional “mold bloom” on the red leather; Nike confirmed the powder was part of the pre-aging process, not a QC flaw, sparking debate in sneaker forums.
Care tip
Skip harsh cleaners—cracked paint can flake. Use a soft horse-hair brush with warm water and mild soap; pat dry. Store with silica packs to slow further yellowing of the sail mid-sole.
Why collectors chase it
- Closest-to-OG shape since the ’85 cut—yet carries a fresh storytelling angle.
- Box and receipt extras make DS sets display-worthy without opening the lid.
- One-time holiday drop; demand still outpaces supply despite a 2023 restock.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Black / White” (aka “Panda”)
Little-known facts
- The nickname isn’t official. Jordan Brand’s 1985 box label simply read “BLACK / WHITE”. “Panda” only caught on after a 2008 black-and-white Dunk High CO.JP release; purists still insist the OG AJ1 shouldn’t share the name.
- 1985 pairs were Asia-only. Unlike the Chicago or Bred, the Black/White launched exclusively in Asian markets, making dead-stock originals far scarcer than their red counterparts.
- First retro came bundled with an AJ 22. The colorway didn’t return until the 2008 Countdown Pack, sold as a two-shoe “22/1” box aimed at celebrating the forthcoming AJ 23.
Timeline
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1985 | OG Black/White debuts in select Asian retailers. |
| 2008 | First retro via Countdown Pack (AJ 22 / AJ 1 bundle). |
| 2014 | Stand-alone “High OG” retro re-introduces the Nike Air tongue tag. |
| 2023 | ’85-cut retro restores the original higher collar and stiffer leather panels. |
| 2024 | Global GR re-stock brings pairs to chain retailers for the first time. |
Design & materials
A master-class in minimal blocking: white toe-box and quarter panels are wrapped by jet-black overlays, Swoosh and collar. The 2023 ’85 version brings back a straighter mudguard and thicker ankle padding, while the 2024 release uses a softer liner and slightly wider forefoot for modern sizing comfort.
On-foot history
Although Michael Jordan never laced the Black/White on-court, the shoe found a second life in late-’80s skate culture—grainy Santa Cruz videos show riders beating them up for ankle support. The 2014 retro became Travis Scott’s everyday pair during his Days Before Rodeo tour, helping the colourway surge in resale popularity.
Care tip
The white leather quarters pick up rub-marks fast. Wipe with a damp micro-fibre cloth, then hit only the white panels with a foam sneaker eraser. Avoid aggressive cleaners—chemical bleaches can yellow the mid-sole edge against the black overlays.
Why collectors still chase it
- Versatility: monochrome matches everything, so pairs actually get worn.
- Undersupplied OG: far fewer ’85 Black/Whites survive compared to Chicagos or Breds.
- Continuity: every retro keeps original Nike Air branding—no Jumpman heel logos to upset purists.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG × Union LA “Black Toe / Chicago Shadow” (2018)
Little-known facts
- Cut-and-paste DNA. Designer Chris Gibbs physically cut two vintage AJ 1 uppers—an ’85 Chicago and a ’94 Neutral Grey/Shadow—and Franken-stitched them together with baby-blue zig-zag thread. Nike’s sample room copied that DIY prototype almost stitch-for-stitch.
- Split tongue label. Union kept the Chicago tongue (white nylon, red NIKE AIR) but flipped it inside-out so the exposed foam mimics years of wear.
- Hidden “Vault” code. Lift the insole and you’ll find “942232-108” stamped on the strobel—Union’s internal style code, not Nike’s.
- Box art by Chris Gibbs’ barber. The scrawled size stickers and torn-tape collage on the lid were hand-drawn by Gibbs’ long-time barber Robert Gallagher, then digitised for mass production.
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Apr 2018 | Union founder Chris Gibbs shows the first prototype at Nike WHQ. |
| 20 Oct 2018 | In-store launch at Union LA’s La Brea boutique—wristband only. |
| 24 Nov 2018 | Global SNKRS drop; both colourways sell out in < 1 min. |
| Feb 2019 | Small restock via Union’s “Last Call” web raffle. |
| 2021 | Prices cross $2 000 DS, cementing it as a modern grail. |
Design & materials
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Upper | Full-grain white and varsity-red leather from the Chicago toe, black overlay from ’85 Black Toe. |
| Collar | Neutral Grey suede with baby-blue zig-zag “overlock” stitch. |
| Tag | Yellow cotton label stamped UN / LA—inspired by industrial garment tags. |
| Tongue | Exposed-foam nylon, inverted so the label’s underside faces out. |
| Mid-sole | Sail-tinted polyurethane for pre-aged look. |
Each pair ships with cream vintage-style laces plus optional black and grey laces.
On-foot history
- LeBron James wore the Black Toe Union courtside during the 2018 Lakers home opener—first celeb sighting.
- Virgil Abloh posted an IG Story unboxing his pair, praising “real vintage energy.”
- The shoe starred in Union’s short film Jordan Stories: ’80s Bodega, boosting demand beyond sneaker culture.
Care tip
The zig-zag seam’s light-blue thread can pick up dye from dark denim. Apply a thin coat of sneaker-safe Stain & Water Repellent before first wear and store with shoe trees to reduce mid-foot creasing—replacing that two-tone collar panel is nearly impossible.
Why collectors still chase it
- Authentic vintage vibe. Gibbs used actual 1980s pairs as source material; the crackled texture and off-white mid-sole look convincing, not gimmicky.
- Storytelling details (UN/LA tag, exposed foam, custom box art) set a new bar for AJ 1 collaborations.
- Only one production run—roughly 38 000 pairs split across two colourways—no restocks since 2019.
AJ 1 History
Released (1985)
Nike rolled the dice in April 1985 when it launched the Air Jordan 1 at a then-lofty $65. Designed by Peter Moore, the AJ1 was the first signature shoe for a rookie and the cornerstone of a five-year, $2.5 million deal that lured Michael Jordan away from Converse and adidas. Most NBA footwear was still plain white leather; the AJ1 detonated that norm with saturated “Black/Red” panels that matched nothing on the Bulls’ uniforms and flaunted a molded ankle collar stamped with Moore’s new “Wings” crest. The shoe imported running-shoe tech—encapsulated Nike Air in the heel—and a full cup-sole borrowed from the Air Ship prototype, but its disruptive style, not its cushioning, sparked the revolution. Talksport
Design Elements
- Anatomy of Audacity: High-top leather panels allowed bold two-tone blocking while reinforcing the toe overlay (stitch lines taken straight from Moore’s sketchbook). A thick, perimeter-stitched cup-sole gave skaters and hoopers a flat, board-feel ride—and made sole-swaps possible decades later.
- Wings & Swoosh: Moore added the Air Jordan Wings after doodling them on a napkin during a flight; they form a pilot-style badge that sits right where most shoes would display a corporate logo. Meanwhile the oversized Swoosh anchors both sidewalls, giving the AJ1 a double-branded identity—unique then, coveted now.
- Two Heights, Many Lives: OG production offered both an 8.5-inch high-top and a “’85 Low” for summer wear. The later-introduced AJ1 Mid (first sold in 2001) provided an accessible price point and kept the silhouette in malls even when the high-top was scarce, ensuring constant visibility.
- Material Variations: Early pairs used thick, glove-tanned leather; by late ’85 Nike added coated canvas on some Metallic colorways to reduce weight. Modern retros toggle between tumbled hides (2015 “Shattered Backboard”), patent finishes (2003 “Patent Pack”) and even Flyknit knit uppers (2017 Flyknit Chicago), proving the chassis can absorb endless reinterpretations.
Influential Colorways
| Colorway | Year | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (White/Red/Black) | 1985 | Worn for most home games; its balanced blocking made it the template for later retros and the Dior collaboration. Hypebeast |
| Bred / “Banned” (Black/Red) | 1985 | Violated the NBA’s 51 % rule; the league threatened $5 k fines, Nike claimed it would pay, and a legendary ad campaign was born. The Sole SupplierTalksport |
| Royal | 1985 | Jordan never wore them in a game, yet the blue-black combo became a grail after photos of MJ on a 1985 Sports Illustrated shoot surfaced. Hypebeast |
| Shadow | 1985 | Subdued grey tones broadened appeal beyond Bulls fans and foreshadowed today’s neutral “Mocha” trend. |
| Black Toe | 1985 | Hybridized Chicago red with a black forefoot; its blocked vamp has become a recurring theme on countless SB and Travis Scott make-ups. |
| Metallics (Navy, Purple, Green, Red) | 1985 | Smaller production runs sold mostly on the East Coast; coveted by vintage hunters for their pearlescent Swooshes. |
Key Moments
- “Banned” Saga (Oct 18 1984 pre-season → Feb 85 commercial). The NBA warned Nike about Jordan’s non-white sneakers. Nike flipped the reprimand into an ad that pixelated the shoe and taunted, “Fortunately, they can’t stop you from wearing them.” Sales exploded. The Sole SupplierTalksport
- 63-Point Playoff Eruption (Apr 20 1986). Wearing a home “Chicago” AJ1, MJ dropped a playoff-record 63 on Boston—Larry Bird called him “God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
- First Dunk Contest Title (Feb 1985). The Black/Red AJ1 appeared as Jordan soared from the free-throw line, seeding sneakerhead fascination with Air-borne imagery.
- Madison Square Garden Finale (Mar 8 1998). Thirteen years after debut, Jordan laced an OG-cut AJ1—bleeding through his socks—to honor MSG’s hardwood in his last Bulls visit.
- Skateboarding Cross-Pollination (late ’80s). West-coast vert skaters like Lance Mountain and Matt Hensley adopted clearance-rack AJ1s for their padded collars and grippy sole, spraying them in mismatched colors—a lineage Nike SB later commemorated with the 2014 Lance Mountain AJ1 “Wear-Away.” Nike.comSneaker Freaker
Cultural Impact
The AJ1’s influence radiates through nearly every corner of modern style.
- Skate DNA: With Airwalk and Vision focused on neon hi-tops, skaters co-opted the AJ1 for durability and board feel. The crossover birthed Nike SB’s 2003 “Colors By” series and 2019’s AJ1 SB “LA to Chicago,” cementing the shoe as a skate staple decades after launch. Nike.comSneaker Freaker
- Hip-Hop & Pop Icons: From Run-D.M.C.’s early shout-outs to Jay-Z’s “ComplexCon” stage fits, the 1 signaled cred; its cameo in Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode” video (and his backwards-Swoosh collab) pushed resale prices into the stratosphere.
- High-Fashion Runways: In 2017, Virgil Abloh’s Off-White AJ1 “The Ten” deconstructed the Chicago colorway with quotation-marked text and foam tongues—GQ’s 2017 Shoe of the Year. Dior took things further in 2020 with a hand-made Italian AJ1 priced at $2 k+, walking Paris runways and proving the silhouette could sit beside couture brogues.
- Global Sneaker Economy: The AJ1 drives billion-dollar resale platforms; StockX dubbed it its best-selling model five years running. A 1985 “Bred” pair game-worn by MJ fetched $560 k at Sotheby’s in 2020, and mint-condition pairs command five-figure sums.
Legacy
Forty years on, the Air Jordan 1 remains the backbone of sneaker culture:
- Annual Retro Cycles: Since the first 1994 retro, Nike has released AJ1s every year; the 2015 “Chicago” and 2022 “Lost & Found” drops each eclipsed one million pairs yet still sold out instantly.
- Design Template: Its simple paneling lets collaborators—from Dior to J. Balvin—inject storytelling without altering shape. That staves off fatigue and keeps the AJ1 relevant whether it’s draped in tie-dye, satin, or meteor-grade wear-away paint.
- Cultural North Star: Whenever a new subculture—grime MCs in London, K-pop stars in Seoul, Formula 1 drivers on podiums—needs a sneaker to signal rebel prestige, the AJ1 is the default. “Every sneaker tells a story,” Nike historian Scott Reames notes, “but the Air Jordan 1 is the story.” The Sole Supplier
From banned hardwood renegade to haute-couture centerpiece, the Air Jordan 1’s 40-year journey proves that one sneaker can disrupt sport, ignite street culture, inspire skaters, and crash fashion week—all while coming back every season in colors both classic and cutting-edge. It isn’t just the genesis of a dynasty; it’s the living, evolving DNA of modern sneakerhead culture.