Nike Air Jordan 1: The story of a sneaker legend

If we take a closer look at the history of the Nike Air Jordan 1, it is full of intricate details. It's hard to believe that a simple sneaker made of red, white and black leather has influenced the game of basketball as well as modern marketing as much as the Air Jordan 1 has.

But let's start from the beginning. In 1984, Michael Jordan was selected third overall by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Draft. Jordan was not one of the top choices of NBA players at the time. Still, the Bulls were confident and signed Jordan to a seven-year deal. Meanwhile, Nike was already working on its own contract with Jordan, but getting it done wasn't easy at all.

Jordan's favorite brand at the time was adidas, and the Jumpman wanted to sign with the brand with the three stripes. The reason: adidas shoes fit him better. Not interested at all, he was practically dragged to Oregon for Nike's presentation. However, to pique the basketball star's interest, the Swoosh had the boldest and biggest plan ever. Nike offered him a brand new shoe tailored to his needs. It would even take into account his different sized feet. After much back and forth, MJ was on board and signed the largest, to that point, sponsorship deal in basketball history.

The "forbidden" shoe

From then on, things went uphill. After the first Nike Air Jordan 1 shoes hit the market, 70 million dollars worth of Air Jordans were sold in the first two months alone. The Air Jordan 1 made its first appearance on the basketball court on October 18, 1984 in a preseason game against the New York Knicks. Michael Jordan wore a black and red pair of the "One," but it violated NBA rules: In the opinion of NBA Commissioner David Stern, the design of the shoe was too flashy and not enough white. This day remains unforgotten in the history of Nike. It is told that every time MJ wore a sneaker on the court that did not comply with the color code, he was fined $5,000.

Nike Air Jordan 1 "Chicago" as a solution to the problem

Due to the threat of fines, Nike dealt with an alternative colorway that complied with NBA regulations. With black, white and red leather, this model is now known as the Nike Air Jordan 1 "Chicago". Jordan's taste didn't quite match the shoe, but the "banned" controversy over the AJ1 gave Nike's marketing team room to push the shoes as an act of rebellion and sales went through the roof as a result.

OG models of the Air Jordan 1

After the success of the Air Jordan 1 "Chicago", different 1 models were launched. Besides the "Chicago", "Black Toe" and "Bred" colorways, the "Shadow", "Royal" and "UNC" versions were also very popular. After several updates, the Air Jordan 1 did not return to the market until 1995. At that time, there was no retro market as we know it today and so the Air Jordan 1 could not continue its success from the 80s. The specially created Jordan Brand waited until 2001 to try the "One" again. This time in a new mid-top form. Since then, interest in the silhouette has exploded and countless color combinations have been given to the Air Jordan 1, making it one of the most popular sneakers of all time!

Which Air Jordan 1 models are the most popular today?

The "Chicago", "Black Toe" and "Bred" Air Jordan 1s still remain the most significant and popular models due to their OG status, their appearances on the basketball court and general fame. They are considered absolute grails in the sneaker community and will forever be synonymous not only with streetwear and style, but of course with "His Airness" himself - Michael Jordan.

In addition to the classic color combinations, the sneaker also got new shapes over the years. In addition to the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG, the basketball classic is also available as a mid or low variant. Especially the Air Jordan 1 Low is suitable for all Jumpman fans who are not into high-top sneakers.

From basketball classic to real streetwear icon

If you think you can only rock the Air Jordan 1 on the court, you're completely wrong! Its timeless look makes it the perfect everyday shoe, which you can wear very simply with jeans. In combination with a basic T-shirt, you ensure a casual look with minimal effort. Whether jogging pants or business suit - the Air Jordan 1 can be combined with numerous streetwear and casual outfits and shows again and again what a BBall legend he is.

The crème-de-la-crème of collabo partners

Such a streetwear icon naturally attracts big fashion brands again and again. So it's not surprising that the Air Jordan 1 has collaborations with brands like Levi's, Dave White or Fragment. A real jewel among the Jordan collabs is definitely the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 High OG "Cactus Jack". In 2018, Nike teamed up with rapper Travis Scott to release the Jordan 1 with a brown and white leather upper and an inverted Swoosh. As one of the most hyped sneaker releases in 2018, the shoe was sold out in no time. At least as hyped are the collaborations surrounding the Air Jordan 1 with Virgil Abloh's brand Off White. The Off White x Air Jordan 1 in white, light blue and the classic "Chicago" colorway are among the absolute highlights of the 1 collabos. In typical Off White fashion, the models were sold out immediately and only a few lucky people were able to get hold of the Jordans.

Basketball and skating? The Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 OG LA to Chicago

One collabo we want to let stand out again clearly. Many of you are now asking: Since when does skating have anything to do with basketball? Years after its original release, the Nike Air Jordan 1 found its way into skater culture. With a high upper and enough cushioning, skate icons like Lance Mountain, Mickey Reyes and Bryce Kanights started skating with the Air Jordan 1. With this background, both Nike Brands Jordan and Nike SB released the Nike SB x Air Jordan 1 OG LA to Chicago. The collaboration pays a tribute to Chicago and L.A., where skateboarding as well as basketball are widely popular. The love for basketball is illustrated by the iconic colors. Whether you're an NBA fan, Jordan fan or skate lover - this shoe is a real stunner!

The ladies discover the Air Jordan 1 for themselves

In recent years, more and more girls have discovered the Air Jordan 1 for themselves. With various women's releases, the Jordan 1 has been given a feminine touch. Last but not least, designs by Aleali May or a collaboration with the luxury brand Dior contributed to this. With the sold out models of the WMNS AJ1 High "Pandaq", the "Satin Black Toe" or the "UNC to Chicago", the Jordan Brand underlines that the shoe is also very successful with the ladies. When it comes to styling - just keep it simple. Graphic shirts create the perfect streetwear look paired with casual jeans or jogging pants.

How does the Nike Air Jordan 1s fit?

The Air Jordan 1 are true-to-size. Whether you're a guy or girl, you can't go wrong with your normal Nike size.