Originally photographed in the fall of 1984 wearing the Nike Air Ship, Jordan debuted his signature shoe for that season’s all-star game. He also showed us the bold Black/Red colorway in photos and commercials where Nike played off the early speculation that Jordan was facing fines for wearing a “banned” shoe, playfully obscuring the Air Jordan with black censor bars.
Birth of the rebirth
Fans couldn’t get enough, and the shoe proved to be so popular that Nike began re-releasing that original Air Jordan as the Jordan Retro 1 in 1994. Nike spun the Jordan label off to a brand of its own in 1997, and the latter has been dropping Retros on us ever since.
But while many Jordan Retro releases are popular – the Retro 3 recalls the debut of elephant print, the Retro 7 reminds us when he and his pro teammates wowed us with gold in international competition, and the Retro 11 is a fire release every holiday season – nothing truly replaces the Retro 1 Mid.
It’s a perfect height to maintain that on-court silhouette but remain wearable with virtually any outfit. The layered leather upper offers countless colorblocking options, and the Swoosh is always clearly visible.
Wear Jordan
No matter which Retro speaks to you, Jordan apparel can help you complete that look. Check old-school “Nike Air” and “Air Jordan” T-shirts, to jackets and shorts. Whether it’s sizes for men, women, or kids, you’re sure to find just the right color and style to help you speak out.
Related to Jordan Retro 1
Jordan Retro 10, Jordan Retro 14, Jordan Retro 13, Jordan Retro 11, Jordan Retro 12
