The Air Jordan 1 Low Puts A Patent Leather Spin On “Varsity Red”

The 2020 design gets new life.

Matt Varga July 8th, 2025 (updated)

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With as much sway and heritage they still hold, it’s hard to rival the original set of Air Jordan 1 colorways. Despite those long odds, it’s something that the Jumpman aimed towards with the release of the Air Jordan 1 ’85 “Varsity Red,” the dawn of the ’85 High build that’s since become infamous on the back of 2025’s “Bred.”

The combination of the non-original colorway and a nadir in Air Jordan 1 hype means that the “Varsity Red” isn’t currently a vaunted asset, but the simplistic blend of black and red is still notable for diehards all the same. Clearly, it’s got some fans in Beaverton, as the Air Jordan 1 Low “Varsity Red” would indicate. Holding on to the exact colorway seen on its Hi cut counterpart, the key change comes in terms of hardware, pinning glossy patent leather on the overlays. While we’ve become accustomed to the AJ1 Low being an easily-reached-for silhouette, this do-up bucks that trend, planting statement appeal at the heart of the design.

As with most general release Nike, Inc. product, the Air Jordan 1 Low “Varsity Red” doesn’t have a concrete release date. In lieu of one, expect this pair to hit Nike.com sometime in the coming weeks, retailing for $125.

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WHERE TO BUY

Mens Air Jordan 1 Low

SKU: HV4089-006

RETAIL PRICE: $125

RELEASE DATE: 2026

US 2026

Retailer	Release type	Status
Nikestore US	Standard	Check Site

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Written by

Matt Varga, Junior Editor

Matt Varga is an Editor at SneakerNews. Initially earning a degree in Video Arts and Technology, he got his start in video editing and writing in the music world — primarily on hip-hop and electronic. A long-standing interest in sneakers led him to switching over to footwear. An avid collector, his favorite sneaker of all time comes down to either the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” and Air Jordan 5 “Laney,” his first ever pick-ups. When he’s not writing, you can find Matt cooking, traveling, attending concerts and when weather permits, on the handball court.