Air Jordan 1 High: the pair that will inspire all others
To celebrate the shoe that marked the beginning of the success of the Air Jordan line, let's take a look at their first pair together: the Air Jordan 1 High. Now essential in the sneaker ecosystem, discover the story of the iconic Air Jordan 1 High!
Birth and evolution of the Air Jordan 1 High
Designed by Peeter Moore, the Air Jordan 1 was released in 1985. That same year, Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls and signed a $2.5 million contract with Nike. For some, the deal was premature. After all, Jordan was just a rookie chosen third in the draft! However, a playoff game in which he scored 63 points against Larry Bird's Celtics quickly convinced everyone, even his opponents. Jordan's shoe, the Air Jordan, debuted with many basketball features that became iconic at Nike: air cushioning in the heel, additional ankle support, and overlays on the toe. The wings on the side of the shoe called Wings, became its inaugural logo and set a high bar for what was to follow in terms of design.
The evolution of the Air Jordan I
Now, one might say that the initial design of the shoe lacks the technologies that will be present in subsequent pairs, but it was more than innovative for its time. Basketball and sneaker fans were immediately excited! Not to mention the fact that it was surrounded by controversy due to its non-compliant colors for the NBA federation. Indeed, every time the GOAT Michael Jordan stepped onto the court with his black, red, and white sneakers, he had to pay a $5,000 fine for violating their uniform policy. A fine that Nike was more than happy to pay to fuel the buzz and easily gain publicity. A number of colorways of the model were then produced, along with a few different variants. After its initial success in the 80s, the Air Jordan 1 saw renewed customer interest with the retro era of 1994 and after Jordan's retirement from basketball.
A pair constantly present on the market
It wasn't until 2008 that Jordan Brand began reissuing the Jordan 1 with its original high cut. Since then, the Air Jordan 1 High has had a relatively constant presence on the market, as it was featured in the "Countdown" Collezione pack and the Doernbecher collection. The pair was commemorated with its induction into the Jordan Hall of Fame in 2009. In recent years, the shoe has experienced an increased level of popularity with the rise of vintage and retro trends, collaborations with Nike SB, and the highly anticipated return of the "Nike Air" branding. Jordan Brand has also packaged the Jordan 1 in a retro box inspired by the original 1985 design.
A model that will inspire all other Air Jordans
In 1986, after the Air Jordan 1 High, the Jordan brand released a new pair of sneakers with the Air Jordan 2. Its new design is more high-end, featuring Italian leather. However, it did not achieve the same success as the Air Jordan 1. The Air Jordan 3 was released 2 years later, designed by Tinker Hatfield. Highly appreciated, it gave Nike the boost it needed to continue developing the Jordan brand. A brand new Jumpman logo was created, illustrating Michael Jordan dunking. In 1989 and 1990, Tinker Hatfield continued with the Air Jordan 4 and the Air Jordan 5. The latter would become iconic with its white/grape ice colorway (Will Smith would wear this pair in the series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”).
Iconic collaborations
The Jordan brand continues to solidify its success through collaborations with stars, athletes, or sports icons. We find the iconic Air Jordan 1 Travis Scott High and Low, the Air Jordan 3 Justin Timberlake, and the Air Jordan 4 Eminem. Not only will these artists wear these pairs during their concerts, but they also help gain market share among the fans of the rappers. Jordan Brand will also collaborate with Off-White, the label of the late Virgil Abloh, to revisit models like the Air Jordan 1 High and the Air Jordan 5. Additionally, Jordan Brand has released 3 pairs of Air Jordans in collaboration with PSG for football fans!
