The Air Jordan 1 sneaker was designed by Peter Moore and released by Nike exactly on April 1, 1985. It was the first sneaker in the Air Jordan line, created in partnership with professional basketball player Michael Jordan.
The Air Jordan 1 quickly gained popularity among professional basketball players and sneaker fans thanks to its innovative design and its association with Jordan, who played for the Chicago Bulls at the time and was already a well-known and highly regarded athlete. The shoe was designed with performance in mind, with a high silhouette, padded collar and the innovative “Air” cushioning system in the sole for comfort and support. It also had a sleek, streamlined look that set it apart from other sneakers of the time.
The Air Jordan 1 became famous for its bold colors and unique design elements, such as the “Swoosh” logo on the side and the distinctive “Wings” logo on the ankle. It was also the first sneaker to feature the “Nike Air” logo on the tongue, which has since become a signature element of many Nike sneakers.
The Air Jordan 1 was initially released in a few colorways, including the now iconic “Chicago” colorway, which featured a red, white and black color scheme inspired by the Chicago Bulls. The Air Jordan 1 was also released in other colorways that became cult favorites, including the “Bred” colorway, which featured a black and red color scheme, or the “Royal” colorway, which featured a blue and black color scheme.
You maybe interest to read:
The very rare Air Jordan 1 High “Lost and Found” makes its comeback
An Air Jordan 1 Low in the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers
First looks at the Air Jordan 1 Mid “Inside Out”
The Air Jordan 1 was an immediate success and quickly gained a cult following among sneaker fans. However, its meteoric success story has been plagued with controversy:
– The Air Jordan 1 was banned by the NBA in the early 1980s because of its red and black color scheme, which did not comply with the association’s rules on basketball shoe colors – other sources mention that it was more like the Nike Air Ship, which met a less glorious fate. This controversy only served to strengthen the reputation and appeal of the basketball shoe, which eventually became a cultural icon and a symbol of style and athleticism.
– In 1986, Nike launched a controversial advertising campaign for the Air Jordan 1 entitled “Become Legendary.” The ad, which aired during the NBA Finals, featured a Michael Jordan lifting off the ground to perform an incredible dunk. The ad was criticized for featuring stereotypical images of the African-American community and for being perceived as disrespectful to African-American athletes who had truly contributed to the history of basketball.
– In 2017, the Air Jordan 1 was at the center of a fraud scandal when high-quality knockoffs were sold on online retailers such as StockX and GOAT. Thousands of pairs of counterfeit shoes were sold before the problem was detected and the fraudsters were arrested.
– In 2019, Nike released a new version of the Air Jordan 1 titled “Shattered Backboard”, inspired by the legendary incident where Michael Jordan broke the basket during a game in Italy in 1986. The shoe was very popular with collectors and quickly sold out. However, many Nike fans criticized the shoe for being sold at a much too high price, going for several thousand dollars on the resale market.
– In 2021, the Air Jordan 1 was at the center of a debate about sneaker culture when riots broke out in several U.S. cities when some limited versions of the shoe were released. The riots were denounced by some as a manifestation of overconsumption and excess in sneaker culture, while others defended the right of fans to get the shoes they wanted.
Since its initial release, the Air Jordan 1 has been released in countless variations, including low-top and mid-top versions, and has been worn by countless professional athletes and celebrities. It has also been used as a symbol of hip-hop culture and streetwear fashion over the past few decades. It has been worn by many artists and celebrities, including Kanye West and Travis Scott, and has become a key component of many luxury shoe collections.
Click on this link to read this article in French version.
