Air Jordan 1 Sneaker - A First of Its Kind

The Air Jordan 1, the legacy that started a society of sneakers and changed sneaker collecting, was the first-ever edition of the prominent Air Jordan Brand you know today. The Jordan Ones garnered support from millions of fans, becoming well-known for their design and quality on and off the court. A first of its kind in the sneaker world during its first years in the mid-80s, The Nike Air Jordan 1 is the king of a royal lineup of 35 Air Jordan editions.

The History of the Jordan 1

With the onset of the 84/85 NBA season, a new sneaker was inspired by and coincided with the young Michael Jordan's first season in the NBA. The NBA was hoping to have a shoe and brand for Michael Jordan to grow with, and with the help of shoe designer Peter Moore, the original Jordan 1 designer, a new sneaker was born.

With a release date in 1985, the original Air Jordan 1s sported a much simpler design than the sneakers we know. For one, technology was not as advanced at the time. The original colorway was to match the Chicago Bulls, who Michael Jordan played with at the time and for most of his career. The Jordan Ones had a red, black, and white colorway. Moore designed a wing symbol for the upper ankle of the shoe. The wing symbol was the first recognizable logo representing Air Jordan and the forerunner of the Jumpman logo you see today on the tongue of the Air Jordan lineup.

Because of the strict NBA rules at the time, Jordan was fined $5,000 per game every time he wore the Jordan 1 sneakers, but at the end of the 1985 season, Jordan became the Rookie of the Year, and the Jordan 1 took off. In the first year, Nike predicted to sell only 100,000 pairs of the first Air Jordan sneaker, but they quickly surpassed that estimate by selling 1.5 million pairs in the first six weeks. Michael Jordan became a household name and basketball superstar as did his Jordan 1 sneakers.

The Jordan 1 sneaker has continued to stay in the limelight in recent years. With throwbacks growing popular in the early 2000s and the rise of the internet, the Nike Air Jordan 1 continued to sell. Today, Air Jordan 1s are released with new designs each year and are available on eBay.

Nike Jordan 1 Collaboration Through the Years

The Jordan 1 has seen numerous collaborations, teaming up with artists, athletes, fashion designers, and more. Check out some of the collaborations through the years that are available on eBay.

The First Collaboration

Levi's became the first partner to collaborate with Nike Air Jordan 1 on March 1, 2008, with the release of the Levi x Jordan 1 Retro. This Jordan pair has an elephant print denim base and a red leather overlay. They are mid-cut and include jeweled Swoosh and gold eyelets. When first released, they paired with a specially designed Levi's outfit.

A Tribute to Hip-Hop

Jordan 1 paid homage to hip-hop fans with the A Tribe Called Quest collaboration. This pair of the Jordan 1 has an all-black base and overlay. The red and green stripe print on the side and toe drew inspiration from the album The Low End Theory. The high strap is black with a red and green racer stripe. The sneaker has a black midsole and red outsole.

Teaming Up With Skateboarders

Another memorable collab includes the Lance Mountain x Nike SB x Jordan 1 released on June 7, 2014. These sneakers are unique because of their mismatched colorway. They come in white or black, with one shoe having red features and one shoe having blue. They include a one-of-a-kind scratch material on the uppers to show the mismatched color variation.

Current Jordan 1 Models Available

Jordan 1 Low "Light Iron Ore"

Jordan Ones started 2022 with the Jordan 1 Low "Light Iron Ore" release. The "Light Iron Ore" edition sports red leather, a black Swoosh, and light grey overlays. The liner, laces, and outsoles consist of a light grey hue. Jordan 1 Low "Light Iron Ore" was released on January 3, 2022.

Jordan 1 Low OG "Bleached Coral"

Released on July 2, 2022, the Jordan 1 Low OG "Bleached Coral" sets itself apart from other colorways of its kind because textures showcased in this pair of sneakers. The shoe comes in a black, white, and titular pink color scheme. The titular pink is on the toe and heel in suede. Cracked leather in black takes up the shoe's forefront while white makes up the mid panel and midsole. The Jordan 1 Low OG "Bleached Coral".

Jordan 1 Retro High OG "Stage Haze"

Also released on July 2, 2022, the Jordan 1 Retro High OG "Stage Haze" is a high-top shoe with a color mix of white, black, and grey fog. To match the Jordan 1 summer lineup, bleached coral is on the Nike Air label on the tongue and in the insole. The sneaker is suede, cracked leather, and leather. Jordan 1 Retro High OG "Stage Haze".

A Look Into the Future - Upcoming Jordan 1 Releases

The Jordan 1 is unstoppable at this point. As 2022 comes to a close, look to the future to see what's in store for the Nike Jordan 1. Check out some of the to-be-released Jordan 1 sneakers in 2023 below!

Jordan 1 Retro High OG "Celtics"

Spring 2023 looks pretty good with news of the Retro High OG "Celtics." Originally released in 2009, but this time in an OG high-top form, this Jordan 1 edition commemorates Michael Jordan's 63-point game against the Boston Celtics in the 1986 NBA Playoffs. The OG "Celtics" color scheme will follow the Jordan One's Chicago Bulls colorway, with Celtics green replacing the red color block. A few other differences to note is the removal of the Jumpman logo on the sneaker. Instead, the Nike Air logo will be on the tongue. These sneakers have an expected release date of April 15, 2023.

Jordan 1 Retro High OG WMNS "Washed Pink"

The Retro High OG WMNS "Washed Pink" will also debut in Spring 2023. This sneaker includes white leather upper and a stonewashed pink denim overlay. The denim overlays have a frayed look around the edges, and the wings logo is a patch on the upper outside heel. The sneaker will come with a white midsole and pink outsole. You can expect this new release to be available on April 22, 2023.