Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Debuts New Shoebox

A clearer picture.

Matt Varga 3 hours

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The return of Virgil Abloh’s design principles to the fold in Beaverton has been long teased and even longer awaited. It doesn’t feel like a stretch to call the late legend one of the most important collaborators in the brand’s history, adding fuel to the fire that was the late 2010s/early 2020s sneaker landscape and creating genuine modern classics in the process.

The ramp-up effort for the next chapter of Abloh’s legacy with the Swoosh has been underway for some time unofficially, and adding the weight of the Oregon giants with the sprawling Virgil Abloh Archive showcase in Paris. As we look towards the Air Jordan 1 “Alaska,” the reported comeback effort for his aesthetic, some additional clarification of what to expect has arrived.

Various early info sources have shared looks at the packaging that’ll come with that pair, bringing the pocked cut-outs seen on Abloh’s “Lot 50” Dunk series to the iconic black/red Air Jordan 1 box. An opening on the side, rather than the usual two-piece arrangement, gives way to a fully transparent case within, marked with all-over VAA emblems and the Jumpman stamp. An iridescent insert reads “MODERNISM IS NOT NEW,” a reflection of Virgil’s wide-ranging philosophy on art and creation, while an included brochure appears to depict early concept drawings from Abloh’s backlog.

Catch shots of the new peripherals below, and keep our Jordan Release Dates page within reach for more updates. The Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 High is expected to touch down in March 2026.

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

: Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 Packaging @prm.cotd

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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.