History of the Air Jordan 1

The Air Jordan 1 is considered by many collectors to be the greatest Air Jordan shoe worn by Michael Jordan. Debuted in 1985, the Jordan 1 was Jordan’s first-ever signature shoe with Nike, and the sneaker that started it all for “His Airness’s” legacy in footwear. It was released in many colorways, including the “Chicago,” “Bred,” and more, and on Jordan’s feet during his epic 63-point performance in the ‘86 NBA Playoffs against the Larry Bird-led Boston Celtics. The Jordan 1 has transcended its original purpose over time, becoming a skate shoe, a lifestyle shoe, a hyped shoe, a forgotten shoe, and a shoe that Jordan Brand can’t seem to release in enough colorways to satisfy the demand of sneaker collectors around the world.
After wearing the Nike Air Ship early in his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan switched to the Air Jordan 1, and quickly established himself as one of the best basketball players in the world. With fans coming out in droves to see Jordan play at NBA arenas around the country, and even more tuning in at home, all eyes were on Jordan’s footwear. Suddenly, the Jordan 1 was the hottest sneaker in the world in the mid-80s.
Nike’s famous “Banned” commercial campaign also contributed to the Jordan 1’s lore.

The Jordan 1 was designed by Peter Moore, the same mind behind the Nike Dunk and several other retro basketball shoes of ‘80s-era fame. It was released in an unprecedented amount of colorways upon its original release, including the first-ever college-inspired signature colorway for a professional athlete: the “UNC” Jordan 1. Inspired by Jordan’s alma mater, the University of North Carolina, the “UNC” theme debuted on the classic sneaker and later became an integral part of the Air Jordan line.

Today, the Jordan 1 is available in an incredible variety of colorways on all three of its silhouettes: the high, mid, and low. Several variations of the shoe exist, including the Air Jordan 1 High Zoom Comfort, the Air Jordan 1 Low Elevate, and more. Like many classic Jordans, the style is available in full family sizing, including women’s-exclusive colorways. It’s also the centerpiece of too-many-to-to name collaborations with Off-White, Travis Scott, A Ma Maniére, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z, and more.

Above all, the Air Jordan 1 can be worn by anyone, making it a shoe of the people. The incredibly classic and popular sneaker is available at Stadium Goods.

FAQ

When did the Air Jordan 1 come out?

The Air Jordan 1 was released in 1985 by Nike. The shoe’s first retro release came in 1994, and then again in 2000. Since then, the Jordan 1 has been a regular part of Jordan Brand’s release cycle, and that’s putting it mildly.

How much is the Air Jordan 1?

Pricing for the Air Jordan 1 on the secondary market varies by colorway, size, and other factors. The shoe’s most popular silhouette, the Air Jordan 1 High OG, has a retail price of $170. Its next most popular style, the Air Jordan 1 Mid, has an MSRP of $115, while the Air Jordan 1 Low retails for $90.

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