Sneakers have a very particular anatomy that requires a bit of thought if you're not familiar with it. By reading some of our articles, you have certainly come across English and technical terms that were unfamiliar to you. Today, we will break down the Air Jordan 1 together so you can see more clearly!
The different panels of the Air Jordan 1
The toebox
This literally translates to "toe box" and is located at the front of the Air Jordan 1. Depending on the color blocking of the design, this can be the important element of the pair and make it iconic.
The mudguard
This is the panel at the front of the shoe that encompasses and protects the toebox, to which the midsole is attached. This can be colored, textured, speckled, made of leather, suede, or canvas, thus giving character to the design.
The eyelets (also called eyelets)
These are the rings located on the upper that allow the laces to pass through and thus adjust the fit of the foot as you wish. The color of these varies according to the colorway of the Air Jordan 1.
The tongue
This is the part where the laces rest. It is movable and is generally made of nylon. At the top of it is the branding “Nike Air” accompanied by the swoosh (and/or the Jumpman depending on the editions). During a collaboration, it is possible that it features co-branding.
These four elements make up the upper which we also call the vamp. This represents the upper part, from the instep to the toe of the sneaker. It can adopt different styles depending on whether it is made of leather, suede, canvas, mesh, and many others.
The heel
The French translation is "heel". Indeed, the heel represents the rear reinforcement of the sneaker, at the heel level. On the Air Jordan 1 Low it is complemented by the heel tab, which is the heel loop, featuring the branding, co-branding during collaborations, or the Wings.
The quarter panel
This is the back and sides of the upper of a shoe. It is located at the back of the vamp, above the heel and the ankle collar.
The midsole
This is the midsole that separates the vamp from the outsole. It is generally made of white rubber, with visible stitching that goes around the shoe.
The outsole
The midsole detailed above rests on an outsole that is in direct contact with the ground. This can be colored and matched to the design, customized, or even be a gumsole. It is of high quality to withstand wear and weather.
The insoles
These are the removable inner soles of the pair. They feature the branding and are generally customized during collaborations.
The swoosh
If you didn't know, the swoosh is the checkmark logo of Nike that represents a wing of the Greek goddess Nike. On the Air Jordan 1, it is present on each side of the sneaker but also on the branding of the tongue and the outsoles. The lateral swooshes can take different forms depending on the design of the pair, with unique materials or original colors to better contrast with the rest of the iteration.
The Wings
The Wings logo is located on the quarter panel for the Air Jordan 1 High and Mid, and on the heel tab for the lowtop.
The tag
This usually carries the branding or co-branding and hangs at the level of the laces or eyelets to mark a collaboration or a date. It is not present on all models and is removable.
The deubré
This ornament, often metallic, is threaded onto the laces. In the case of the Air Jordan 1, it appears rarely or during collaborations and unique pairs.