Air Jordan 1 Retro

Find a wide selection of Air Jordan 1 High, Mid and Low on basket4ballers

The Air Jordan 1, also known as the "AJ1", is an iconic basketball shoe created by Nike in 1985 for basketball player Michael Jordan. The shoe has been a huge hit with basketball and fashion fans alike, and has become a cultural icon over the years.

The beginning of the collaboration between Michael Jordan and Nike

The collaboration between Michael Jordan and Nike began in 1984, when Jordan signed a sponsorship contract with the brand. At the time, Nike was a relative newcomer to the athletic footwear market, and Jordan had just been drafted into the NBA 3rd overall by the Chicago Bulls after 3 years in college with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Nike saw Jordan's unique potential as a future brand ambassador and decided to create a unique basketball shoe for him.

The creation of the Air Jordan 1

Peter Moore, footwear designer and creative director at Nike, was commissioned to create the Air Jordan 1, designing a pair that was both functional for playing basketball and stylish on and off the court. The Air Jordan 1 boasted innovative features for its time, such as rubber soles with enhanced traction patterns for better grip on the court, and a padded ankle strap for added comfort and support. The shoe's aesthetics were equally innovative. The Air Jordan 1 featured a high-end leather design, with a variety of bright, eye-catching colors. It was a departure from traditional basketball shoes, whose dominant colors were usually white or black.

The launch of the Air Jordan 1

The Air Jordan 1 was first launched in 1985, with a revolutionary advertising campaign. At launch, the AJ1 was available in three colorways: red and white, black and white, and black and red. The model quickly became popular, not least thanks to Michael Jordan's charismatic personality and outstanding performances on the field. The Air Jordan 1 also caused controversy because it didn't comply with the strict NBA rules requiring white shoes. Nike assumed responsibility for the $5,000 fine imposed on MJ for every appearance he made with Air Jordan 1s on his feet on the court, and used the story to its advantage to fuel the pair's storytelling and promotion.

The original AJ1 (OG) colors

• The "Bred" (for "black and red") colorway was one of the first Air Jordan 1 colorways released in 1985. The iconic black and red colors quickly made this shoe one of the most popular models in history.
• The Air Jordan 1 "Chicago" was launched in 1985 to honor Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls basketball team. The shoe's white, black and red colors have also become emblematic and remain linked to the AJ1.
• The "Royal" color was released in 1985 and features a mix of blue and black on the leather upper.
• The Air Jordan 1 "Shadow" was released in 1985 and features shades of grey and black on the leather upper.
• The "UNC" colorway, for University of North Carolina, Michael Jordan's alma mater, was released in 1985 and created to honor MJ's pre-NBA career. The shoe features shades of blue and white on the leather upper, recalling the colors of the UNC basketball team.

The popularity of the Air Jordan 1

The popularity of the Air Jordan 1 has continued to grow over the years. Basketball fans appreciated the shoe's performance and style, while fashion enthusiasts appreciated its aesthetics. The Air Jordan 1 has become a symbol of popular culture, and has been declined in several silhouettes by Jordan brand: High, which is the original model, Mid and Low. The AJ1 also spawned numerous collaborations with renowned designers and artists:

• The hype really took off in 2014, when Hiroshi Fujiwara, founder of the Fragment Design brand, revisited the AJ1 Black Toe with Jordan, replacing the red heel tab with his brand's signature electric blue.
• 3 years later, the Air Jordan 1 x Off-White was born. Part of designer Virgil Abloh's 2017 The Ten collection. Minimalist design and subtle details have made this Jordan 1 x Off-White "Chicago" one of the most coveted colors among collectors.
• The Air Jordan 1 x Travis Scott collaboration. For 2019, Houston rapper Travis Scott has collaborated with Jordan Brand to create an Air Jordan 1 in his image. The shoe features a unique design with an inverted swoosh
• The Air Jordan 1 x Dior collaboration. In 2020, French luxury house Dior collaborated with Jordan Brand to create a capsule collection of shoes and apparel inspired by the Air Jordan 1. The Air Jordan 1 x Dior is one of the most exclusive and expensive models ever created, with a recommended retail price of over 2,000 euros, and a resale price in the tens of thousands of euros.