Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG

‘Patent Bred'

The origin of the Air Jordan 1 first began on October 18, 1984, when Michael Jordan took the court wearing the first pair. Although the public later found out he was actually sporting a pair of Air Ship because the AJ1 wasn’t quite ready, the silhouette, predominantly cloaked with a red and black hue, didn’t adhere to the NBA’s uniform guidelines resulting in several violations and a stern letter from the commission. The shoe officially launched a year later at the end of Michael Jordan’s rookie season and made a reappearance in the colorway ‘Banned’ in the 1985 Dunk Contest. The Air Jordan 1’s aesthetic is more than just a basketball shoe. Still, a cultural icon combined with one of the most iconic basketball players of all time created the perfect storm, creating a complete shift in the sneaker industry and paving the way for its future. 

Designed by well-versed sneaker designer Peter Moore, whose repertoire includes a long list of historic sneakers—(think the Air Force 1, Nike Dunk, Air Ship, and more), the goal was to break the color barrier in footwear, where the bright hues were mainly reserved for running sneakers. At the same time, those for basketball were slated to mostly white colorways. As for the legendary Wings logo, that iconic motif was inspired by Peter Moore flying home from a meeting with Michael Jordan’s agent, where he noticed the plastic wings on a pin that a child had received from a flight attendant. After asking the flight attendant for himself, he began drawing the wings on a napkin where he placed a basketball in the center, thus resulting in one of the most recognizable indicators of a Jordan sneaker. 

Considered to be ‘the one that started it all,’ the Air Jordan 1 redefined the sport of basketball’s relationship to style and embodied a sense of youth counter-culture as a nod to Michael Jordan’s NBA violation and the overall turn in sneaker culture. As the beginning of Nike’s long road of storytelling through sneakers, the first retro model was introduced in 1994. The silhouette has grown to release thousands of different versions and colorways, including the legendary ‘Banned,’ ‘Royal,’ ‘Shadow,’ and ‘Carolina Blue.’ Now, Nike is ending the 2021 year of Jordans with their recent addition—the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG ‘Patent Bred.’ 

Synonymous with Michael Jordan’s history with sneakers, ‘Black’ and ‘Red’ hues return with a shiny upgrade. The latest edition is covered entirely with patent leather in the upper, emphasizing the ‘Bred’ notion. Accented details are placed in the form of Black nylon tongues, while debossed Wings motifs at the ankle appear. ‘Family’ embroidery is placed at the lining, while the clean White midsole contrasts the rest of the silhouette. The Red rubber outsole enhances the design’s glossy reimagination while protecting its traction and durability.

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