John Kim The Air Jordan 1 High ’85 “Bred” is officially due out on February 14th, 2025, but buying a pair will be close to impossible for the average consumer. The shoes are limited in number and only 23 stores in the US will have them, logically flowing against the millions of dollars spent in “Unbannable” marketing.
Thing is, Jordan Brand isn’t exactly marketing this specific release. They could’ve kept silent and the results would have been the same because the organic chatter that began a year ago was enough to solidify it as an immediate sell-out. One does not need to look far behind to see how the community reacts to good, available product; the Air Jordan 5 “Black Metallic Reimagined” on February 8th was a monster hit, even with zero efforts to market the shoe.
Instead, Jordan Brand is leveraging this moment to re-tell the “banned” story for the 40th Anniversary. It’s a well-crafted fib by Jordan Brand considering the Air Jordan 1 was never actually banned by the NBA, but they stuck to those guns in 2016 and their grip on that handle is even stronger in 2025. The goal: raise the cultural energy around Air Jordan to the existing community of Jordan fanatics and educate the younger consumer.
The “Unbannable” campaign started off with a surreptitious disabling of their Instagram accounts, to DJ Khaled getting fake text messages from Michael Jordan, to an actor infiltrating the Nike HQ and handing out mock citations to employees wearing the Air Jordan 1. Now, their month-long campaign is about to hit its apex at All-Star Weekend. They’ve got drones flying around the Bay Area, forming the shape of an Air Jordan 1 and a 23.
Unfortunately, the only accessible new Jordans this weekend will be the “Black Toe Reimagined” Air Jordan 1 on February 15th, a release that Jordan Brand postponed from last October to smack dab in the middle of All-Star Weekend to benefit from the marketing efforts.
Sneaker News has covered and followed every step of this release thus far, but unfortunately we have to inform you that getting a pair for retail is unlikely. Nearly every US retailer has conducted their raffles already, done in-person release events, or made them exclusive to their loyal customers and/or friends & family. We have nothing else to do but remind you that the official release date is tomorrow (February 14th), wish you good luck, and advise you to focus on the next Jordan release date. This one ain’t happening.
-
- Air Jordan 1 High ’85 “Bred” Foot District
-
- Air Jordan 1 High ’85 “Bred” Foot District
-
- Air Jordan 1 High ’85 “Bred” Foot District
-
- Air Jordan 1 High ’85 “Bred” Foot District
-
- Air Jordan 1 High ’85 “Bred” Foot District
-
- Air Jordan 1 High ’85 “Bred” Foot District
-
- Air Jordan 1 High ’85 “Bred” Foot District
Jordan Brand touted a meticulously thorough process in getting the Retro right for its 40th Anniversary. The shape does look consistent to the 1985 original, but it only calls out the fact that nearly every other Retro (outside of 1994) was never actually done right. Ironically, modern-day Air Jordan 1 fans have a hard time accepting the ’85 High shape because to that demographic, the 2016 version with thicker ankle padding and tumbled leather is regarded as the best Retro, but the release of the Black/Red 85s could shift those views.
Considering how limited these were made to be, Jordan Brand could have taken the extra steps with custom packaging and Made In Italy craftsmanship and materials and price them at $800-$1.000 like the China-exclusive Wings pairs, and follow that with a more “general release” of the shoe with more than the rumored 10,000 pairs.
That said, this is not the last of the Air Jordan 1 “Bred”. There will most certainly be releases in the future before the more impactful 50th Anniversary of the Air Jordan 1 in 2035.
WHERE TO BUY
Mens Air Jordan 1 High 85 "Bred"
US 02/14/2025 Friday
Powered By:
| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| KICKS CREW | Aftermarket | Aftermarket |
| Sneaker Politics | Standard | Check Site |
| Concepts | Standard | Check Site |
| WOODstack | Standard | Check Site |
| BAIT | Standard | Check Site |
| Undefeated | Standard | Check Site |
| A Ma Maniere | Standard | Check Site |
| Lapstone & Hammer | Standard | Check Site |
| All the Right | Standard | Check Site |
| Up NYC | Standard | Check Site |
| Oneness | Standard | Check Site |
| SoleFly | Standard | Check Site |
| Wish | Standard | Check Site |
| Sole Play | Standard | Check Site |
| xhibition | Standard | Check Site |
| Trophy Room | Standard | Check Site |
| Premiumgoods | Standard | Check Site |
| Grinmore | Standard | Check Site |
| Succezz | Standard | Check Site |
| Two18 | Standard | Check Site |
| Shoe Gallery | Standard | Check Site |
| Better Gift Shop | Standard | Check Site |
| Capsule | Standard | Check Site |
| SOMEWHERE | Standard | Check Site |
Europe 02/14/2025 Friday
| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| KICKS CREW | Aftermarket | Aftermarket |
| Nike SNKRS UK | Standard | Check Site |
| Solebox | Raffle | Check Site |
| BSTN | Raffle | Check Site |
| Asphaltgold | Raffle | Check Site |
| Foot District | Raffle | Check Site |
| AFEW | Raffle | Check Site |
| SVD | Raffle | Check Site |
| Offspring | Raffle | Check Site |
| Footshop | Raffle | Check Site |
| Oqium | Raffle | Check Site |
| Fenom | Raffle | Check Site |
| One Block Down | Raffle | Check Site |
| Backdoor | Raffle | Check Site |
| Slam Jam | Raffle | Check Site |
| END. | Raffle | Check Site |
| SHINZO Paris | Raffle | Check Site |
| Luisa Via Roma | Raffle | Check Site |
| Titolo | Raffle | Check Site |
Asia 02/14/2025 Friday
| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| atmos Tokyo | Raffle | Check Site |
| Tune | Raffle | Check Site |
| Worksout | Raffle | Check Site |
| Undefeated | Raffle | Check Site |
| Union LA | Raffle | Check Site |
| A&S | Raffle | Check Site |
