Air Jordan 1

The beginning of the brand itself, the Air Jordan 1 was Michael Jordan’s very first official signature under the Air Jordan namesake. Released in 1985, the silhouette was designed by none other than Peter Moore and originally sold for a relatively low sum of $65 USD. Upon its inception, Nike took a very creative approach to marketing, claiming that the shoe was banned by the NBA when in fact it was the Air Ship that originally garnered the warning from the league.

Debuted in “Bred,” “Chicago,” “Black Toe,” and “Royal” colorways, the Air Jordan 1 quickly became a classic for fans of MJ. Since its original run decades ago, the silhouette has received more than a handful of colorways throughout a span of High, Mid, and Low-top shapes, with many of the classics appearing off and on again via “Retro” releases. Undoubtedly the most popular among the entire line-up, pairs — whether OG or not — sell out near instantly upon their release and a select few have sold for upwards of $300 USD on the resell market.

Though mindful to honor its traditional aesthetic, Jordan Brand has also taken quite a few liberties with the silhouette in recent years. While Satin, Nylon, and Mesh often take the place of leathers every so often, the most notable changes are owed to the Air Jordan 1’s many collaborations. Originally hesitant to change, the brand explored more creative avenues thanks to Off-White, whose “The Ten” series introduced a brand new, deconstructed style that the model had yet to see prior. Not too long thereafter, Travis Scott was able to infuse his own personal taste, flipping the Swoosh and applying a fitting earth tone colorway.

More recently, Jordan Brand has begun to explore its roots quite aggressively, bringing about the Air Jordan 1 85 whose New Beginnings pack effectively rebooted the entire series color-wise while reverting construction to a near exact 1985 replica. Currently, there is a Neutral Grey colorway planned for the near future, while the modern base model arrives more often with Tie-Dye treatments and the like.

The Air Jordan 1 High is commonly priced at around $170 USD, while its ‘85 variant sells for a small premium at $200 USD. The Air Jordan 1 Mid and Low, however, sell for a more budget-friendly price of $110-$130 USD and $90 USD, respectively.

price / $90-$200