UPDATE OCTOBER 22, 2024: A rumored first look at the next Union x Air Jordan 1 High has surfaced from Shark Kicks. The pair followed the design template introduced on the OG pairs and combines the upper of a “Shadow” and the bottom half of a “Chicago.”
Jordan Brand is not holding back in 2025. From 85′ “Bred” Air Jordan 1s to the return of the “Shattered Backboard” colorway, next year looks huge for the Jumpman. The latest news leaked by SneakerMarketRO, Zsneakerheadz, and brandon1an is that Union and Jordan are running it back on their grail status Air Jordan 1 highs from 2018. The “Storm Blue” and “Black and Varsity Red” AJ1s are considered classics from the late 2010s and helped catapult Michael Jordan’s first signature sneaker to the top of the sneaker industry. The first Union x Jordan collaboration included an apparel collection, and its success led to multiple future drops like the AJ4s, AJ1 Low KOs, AJ2s, and more.
Details and official images of the upcoming Union x AJ1 have not leaked, but rumors suggest it will follow the popular “Frankenstein” concept of the first release and arrive in February. Union Owner Chris Gibbs took inspiration from vintage hunting, and the idea of combining two rare Jordan finds into one. The end result was a hit and landed at the top of most shoe of the year lists. Jordan Brand would later apply the split colorway concept to general release AJ1s like the “Smoke Grey” in 2020 and multiple mid pairs. Stay tuned as more information becomes available.
Lead Image: Union x AJ1 High Sample via ballintwn