The Inspiration Behind The Union x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG

The vintage-inspired Jordan 1 produced in collaboration with the ever-impactful retailer Union LA has surely been met with appropriate buzz since its thoughtfully planned prank at the Rose Bowl Flea Market and its equally strong landing page at unionjordan.com. While Union owner Chris Gibbs has expressed his interest in vintage garments and sneakers, his unmatched fondness for Jordan Brand is often brushed aside. In what is a melding of his muses, the collaborative capsule features two weathered variations of the classic Air Jordan 1, which sports a “chopped and screwed” motif that embodies the restorations done by a dedicated fan. Studying the overall design of the 1985 editions of the classic silhouette, both Gibbs and the Jordan NRG team have figured a way to maintain the feeling of an original pair with a carefully distressed upper, thicker leather, nubuck fabrications, yellowed midsoles, and much more. Modeled after OG colorways, one takes on the White/Natural Grey and “Black Toe” while the other combines the White/Blue and “Banned releases. Expect to find this highly anticipated collaboration to hit online and select retailers on November 17th.