It’s safe to say that in the almost 40 years since the Air Jordan 1‘s debut, the sneaker has cemented its position as the most memorable sneaker of all time. In most people’s minds, when you talk about Michael Jordan‘s iconic models, the first thing that comes to mind is their go-to pair of Air Jordan 1s. The shoe’s release to the public on April 1, 1985, is considered the beginning of the sneaker subculture as we know it today, and with good cause.
It might be said that Nike took a risk by putting their money on the Jumpman. The 84–85 NBA season marked the beginning of his legend, although no one realized it at the time. When the season ended and Jordan was named Rookie of the Year, the AJ 1 sneakers immediately became a tremendous success. To this day, the original shoe is still a cult classic—the Air Jordan 1 is a staple for every sneaker collector, and it comes in a broad range of colors and styles.
There always seems to be a new release of this silhouette, whether it be a limited edition or a mass-market release, and we sneakerheads never seem to get sick of them. After seeing all of these amazing iterations from the past, it’s easy to see why this shoe is often regarded as one of the best of all time.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Patent Bred
Glossing over the classic colors, Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Patent Bred” brings it into the present. The fundamental design principles of the shoe have not changed, other than the patent leather upper. The toe box, Swoosh, heel overlay, and collar flap are all in a striking varsity red against the otherwise black upper. The black nylon tongue has a Nike tag sewn into the fabric, and the lateral collar features a Wings logo stamp. To close the shoe off, the midsole and outsole are both made of rubber, and the Air-sole unit is cushioned by lightweight polyurethane within the sole.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Yellow Toe
The AJ 1 Retro High OG “Yellow Toe”—or “Taxi”—reintroduces the shoe’s signature color blocking. The all-leather upper has a black trademark Swoosh and a white quarter panel with yellow accents. The heel overlay and collar flap, both of which have a vintage Wings emblem embossed on the lateral side, are amber as well. The black nylon tongue has a woven Nike Air tag. The high top has a white midsole, a yellow outsole, and a sturdy rubber cupsole to complete the sneaker.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Pine Green 2.0
The 2020 iteration of the “Pine Green” colorway takes cues from the 2018 release of the same name and color scheme by using a clean two-tone color profile consisting of green and black throughout its superior tumbled leather construction. The midsole and outsole are white, while the shoe’s black upper is accented with green Swooshes, an ankle strap, and heel panels. The Jordan Brand logo appears on the collar in the shape of a black patent leather Wings insignia, and the usual Nike Air tongue tabs have been replaced with soft leather tabs embossed with “Nike Air” in red.
Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG TD Reverse Mocha
“Reverse Mocha” Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low boasts superior white leather overlays on a light brown nubuck basis. In addition to the traditional white Swooshes, the medial sides of the shoes also have off-white reverse Swooshes inspired by the previous “Cactus Jack” shoe collaborations. Cactus Jack patterns on the tongue and medial sides, Wings designs on the heel, and printed insoles round out the design details. The shoes are finished with a brown rubber outsole, a matching sockliner, a matching midsole, and off-white laces.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG University Blue
In honor of Michael Jordan’s alma mater, UNC, the AJ 1 Retro High OG “University Blue” employs a classic color scheme. The white leather upper with powder blue overlays and a black Nike Swoosh. The collar, tongue tag, and printed Wings emblem on the lateral collar flap are all black to match the main body of the shirt. The traditional AJ1 outsole, with its pivot point beneath the forefoot and multi-directional traction, is given a more vibrant shade of blue.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Dark Marina Blue
The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Dark Marina Blue” has a timeless color-blocking design on the shoe’s famous form. Its forefoot, heel, collar, and eyestays are all dark blue which contrasts well with the black leather top. Both the Swoosh and the Jordan Wings emblems are blue, with the latter being embossed in black on the lateral collar flap. A woven Nike Air branding sewn into the nylon tongue alludes to the shoe’s vintage cushioning technology: an Air-sole unit enclosed in polyurethane and tucked into the heel of the rubber cupsole.
Air Jordan 1 Mid Smoke Grey
In 2021, the Air Jordan 1 Mid made a significant comeback, debuting in a variety of winter-appropriate colours. The “Light Smoke Grey” tri-toned silhouette is next in line for release.
The sneakers have a white leather sole and a grey overlay. Elevated ankle collar, tongue, liner, and lateral swooshes are all done in anthracite, with white contrast stitching. The lateral sides of the shoes feature the iconic Air Jordan ball and wings emblem, while the Jumpman design is seen on the tongue labels and heel counters. A grey outsole and a white midsole round off the design.
Off-White x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Chicago
The Air Jordan 1 x Off-White, designed by Virgil Abloh, has a color scheme inspired by the Bulls’ home city of Chicago. These shoes are unfinished in a number of ways: the Swoosh is stitched to the shoe with blue thread, the word “Air” is written on the shoe’s midsole, and there is an Off-White zip tie on the collar. The box is already disassembled, with the black base and gold Jumpman emblem on the inside, and the plain cardboard with the words “Jumpman” written on the exterior.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Dark Mocha
Throughout the 2020 winter season, Jordan Brand released a slew of visually appealing variations of the Air Jordan 1. The “Black Mocha” iteration of the Swoosh is the newest addition to the renowned collection. The off-white, dark brown, and tonal-black upper of this shoe is reminiscent of Travis Scott’s AJ1 “Cactus Jack” collab.
The shoe has a gray Jumpman emblem on the tongue, a black Wings logo on the collar, and a black Swoosh on the side. This timeless silhouette is modernized with a striking color blocking of brown and black on genuine nubuck leather. To round off the look, the soles are black and the midsoles are an off-white color.
Air Jordan 1 Low White Wolf Grey
The Air Jordan 1 Low “White Wolf Grey” is a classic iteration of the shoe from 1985 updated with a neutral two-tone color scheme. White leather serves as the base while overlays of a lighter shade of grey and a Swoosh in the same hue complete the design. Retro Wings branding appears on the heel, and the silver Jumpman is stitched on the tongue. The shoe is built on a white rubber midsole with encapsulated Air-sole cushioning and a transparent rubber outsole for traction and durability.
Dior x Air Jordan 1 High
The Dior x Air Jordan 1 High is part of an extensive collection that also includes clothes and accessories, and successfully merges streetwear with high fashion. Kim Jones’s rendition of the classic shoe has an Italian leather top in white and grey with hand-painted edges. Each shoe has a Dior woven tongue tag, a Nike Swoosh in Dior Oblique jacquard, and a Dior and Nike’s Wings emblem that is shown via the translucent outsole.
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Bubble Gum
One of the many new colors released by Jordan Brand this past year is the women’s-exclusive Air Jordan 1 High “Atmosphere,” which has recently surfaced in official photos. These sneakers are presented in a way that strikes a nice mix between dusty details and more subdued tones.
The former is shown by the sheerness of the dark navy hits that cascade over the Swooshes, collars, ball-and-wings logos, tongues, and overlays closest to the neck and toe boxes, while the latter is revealed by the sheerness of the crisp white finishes that extend to the quarter sections. Along with these features is a bubble gum pink shade that adorns the toe boxes, ankle flaps, and lower heel overlays. The midsoles provide further white contrast, and the outsoles are done up in a dusty pink that matches the upper.
