The cultural impact of Air Jordan sneakers in the present day is almost impossible to ignore. While on the surface it may seem like all the focus is seemingly on the brand’s high-profile collaborations, Jordan Brand’s in-house designs and colorways have often found themselves to be at the center of the spotlight in many cases. This is most obviously prevalent with the Air Jordan 1.
While it faced a bit of lull in the late-Aughts to early-2010s, the silhouette’s debut and subsequent success can quickly be traced as the origins of sneaker culture as we know it today. Taking a small step back from the purity of the OG 1985 colorways, the retros, and all the star-studded collabs, the SoleSavy team wanted to highlight some of the best non-OG Air Jordan 1 colorways in recent years today with this growing list. What are your favorite non-OG colorways?
“Satin” Jordan 1s
Images via Nike
Same but different. The Satin series of Air Jordan 1 Highs are a welcome, luxurious upgrade to the already beloved silhouette. Introduced in extremely rare quantities in classic Bred and Royal colorways, satin eventually found its way onto more accessible pairs. Some iterations opt for satin on only the ankle collar and heel, others outfit the toe boxes as well (which are prone to intense creasing). The Satin treatment has been applied to a few of Jordan Brand’s most universally appealing colorways such as the women’s “Shattered Backboards” and “Black Toes”.
–Eddie Vargas
CO.JP Pack (2001)
Image via Modern Notoriety
Once unattainable outside of Japan for nearly two decades, this four-piece, Japan-exclusive collection eluded sneakerheads for years. While the fan-favorite “Metallic Silver” and “Midnight Navy” colorways retro’d last year, streets have yet to see the triple black and triple-white iterations return. Those could be in the works down the line but for now, they’ll remain in that coveted club of early-2000s gems.
–Eddie Vargas
DMP Pack (2009)
Image via Scuh You
“DMP.” “Bulls vs. Celtics.” “60 pt. Pack.” No matter how you spin it, the AJ1 “DMP” combined MJ’s legacy with not one but two Air Jordan 1s. Inspired by his Airness’ transcendent performance, a black and red & black and green set of Air Jordan 1s recreated the matchup. The storytelling on the “DMP” release was refreshing. While not as captivating as the ’06 DMP release, the box inspired by the Celtics parquet floor was the perfect trophy case for the pack. This wouldn’t be the first time green and black would arrive on the AJ1, but the nearly unseen take of the Air Jordan 1 was perfect for the pack. However, the ’09 release of the black and red AJ1 fell short for collectors and purists as a lack of Nike Air branding on the tongue and the Jumpman on the back didn’t sit well within the sneaker community. Nonetheless, the return of the “Banned” Air Jordan 1 would lay the foundation for proper retro’s. Its importance from a storytelling perspective is at the core of what makes the DMP set of Air Jordan 1s so great.
–Luis Torres
“Barons” (2014)
Image via Footlocker
Although his Airness never made it to the Majors, Jordan Brand knocked an Air Jordan 1 out of the park with a celebratory “Barons” pack that included an Air Jordan 9 and the Air Jordan 1. The White Sox affiliate Birmingham Barons inspired the colorway. Wolf grey, black, and white landed on the pair and gave us a close enough alternative to the “Shadow” AJ1. While the homage in and of itself made for a great story to celebrate 20 years since Jordan walked up to the plate, the pinstripes in the lining of the Air Jordan 1 and even the subtle 3M hits on the laces made it feel like a coveted PE. Not to mention, its $140 price tag has all of us wishing we appreciated the colorway a lot more.
–Luis Torres
Shattered Backboard (2015)
Image via Nike
While the “amazing” leather quality of these shoes has become somewhat of a meme over the years, the Shattered Backboards have continued to be one of the most hallowed non-OG colorways from Jordan Brand since their debut in 2015. On August 25th, 1985, at an exhibition game in Trieste, Italy, Michael Jordan donned a bright orange jersey in lieu of his standard Chicago Bulls attire and shocked the audience with his performance. On top of scoring 30 points during the game, one of Jordan’s dunks, infamously, was so powerful that he shattered the glass backboard, causing it to rain over the court. By marrying “Black Toe”-esque colorblocking with “Starfish” tones lifted from Jordan’s Italian jersey, this modern-day classic serves as a reminder of this shocking, early career highlight from the GOAT. The same blocking would go on to inspire other hits like 2018’s Bred Toe AJ1.
–Eddie Vargas
Reverse Shattered Backboard (2016)
Image via Nike
Some call these the “Shattered Backboard 2.0”, others call them the “Reverse Shattered Backboards,” what’s less contested is these SBBs are gorgeous. Using a classic “Chicago” colorblocking, the shoe outfits its overlays completely in this bright “Starfish” orange with hits of black only on the ankle collar. While louder than its predecessor, the shoe is no less beloved by purists and newer fans alike.
New Orleans All-Star Game “Chameleon” (2017)
Image via Nike
The NBA All-Star Weekend has been the backdrop for some of sneaker history’s most highly beloved or straight-up rare sneakers for a long time. The 2017 New Orleans ASG was no different and despite the location shift from Charlotte to New Orleans following the controversial Bathroom Bill, the collection intended for North Carolina worked nicely in The Big Easy. While multiple exclusive colorways were either debuted on the court or released during the weekend – including a very rare, all-gold AJ 31 limited to just 23 pairs – the fan-favorite was undoubtedly the AJ1 High “Chameleon.” As its name suggests, this shoe features iridescent paneling which appears to display a myriad of colors when light shines upon it. Frosty, translucent blue outsoles add an extra twist to the shoe, just try not to get them too dirty! … Which you probably can’t.
–Eddie Vargas
Art Basel Pack “Igloo” & “Rust Pink” (2017)
Image via Nike
Now recognized as one of the rarest Air Jordan 1 releases ever, the unofficial Art Basel pack released exclusively via Social Status at Miami’s annual art fair in 2017. Coming in two equally coveted colorways, “Rust Pink” and “Igloo,” these pairs combine colors inspired by Miami’s art Deco heritage with the classic “Black Toe” blocking. From being limited to just a few hundred pairs each to releasing on an actual Yacht, these are modern “Grails” for many.
–Marco Negrete
Bred Toe (2018)
Image via Nike
The Bred Toe will very likely go down as one of the most well-received non-OG colorways of any Air Jordan 1. By combining the classic 1985 colorblocking of the “Chicago” and “Black/Red” (Bred) AJ1 Highs that MJ himself wore, the hybrid “Bred Toe” holds a special place in the hearts of many sneakerheads. This shoe wasn’t marketed with any real storytelling elements, other than paying homage to those classic ‘85 colorways. The shoe speaks for itself. It’s a safe, palatable colorway that works with a variety of outfits that folks still find themselves pining for. While 2018 was only three short years ago, many of us are anxiously awaiting a retro of these bad boys.
–Eddie Vargas
Best Hand in the Game Pack (2018)
Image via Nike
Jordan Brand really went in on the Air Jordan 1 with the “Best Hand in the Game” collection. Let’s break it down. The pair paid tribute to the GOAT as each of the four colorways represented his greatness. The “Blue Moon” for his All-Star appearances; the “Yellow Ochre” for his five MVP awards, the “Track Red” for his six championships; the “Clay Green” tied it all together with his Offensive & Defensive Player of the year awards, his championships, and his Hall of Fame induction. Coinciding with the great storytelling was a masterful use of color blocking and materials.
Drawing on the “Black Toe” fame, all four colorways took the same approach and modified it as the Swoosh and outsole matched the corresponding colorway. And to that extent, the short suede on the heel, ankle collar, and Swoosh was a nice touch to the pack. Finally, the regional exclusivity of the collection reinvigorated the hunt for Jordans once more. Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America dropped the “Track Red” and “Yellow Ochre” colorways; Greater China dropped the “Track Red” and “Clay Green” iterations; North America dropped the “Clay Green” and “Blue Moon” versions. From start to finish, the “Best Hand in the Game” pack was a perfect homage on the shoe that marked the genesis of Air Jordan.
–Luis Torres
Not For Resale Pack (2018)
Image via Nike
Back in 2018, Jordan Brand stepped out of its comfort zone to poke fun at the quickly growing resell market and hype-driven industry. Dubbed the “Not For Resale,” the tongue-in-cheek design featured messages that served as challenges to those who deem some sneakers too precious to wear. Messages like “Not for Resale,” “Wear me,” “Crease,” and “No Photos” made the two colorways an instant hit, with the yellow pair more coveted because of its LA only release. To top it all off, the shoe dropped the same weekend as sneakerheads were lining up at ComplexCon a few miles down the road, making its message and target audience as clear as possible.
–Marco Negrete
Turbo Green (2019)
Image via Nike
Timed to 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, this lightly Hornets’ inspired colorway showcased the Air Jordan 1 with an all-new material play that was right on trend. Coming with an instant vintage look that used washed leather and a sail midsole, the “Turbo Green” delivered the iconic silhouette with a new color and materials twist while adding fuel to the trend we are still seeing dominate sneakers today. And with the recent “Hyper Royal” taking cues from it, expect to see this formula used on more AJ1s in the future.
–Marco Negrete
LA to CHI (2019)
Image via BSTN
The collaborations between Nike SB and Jordan Brand have consistently been some of the best between the brands at the Swoosh. In 2019, the two came together for a pack that represented key cities in Jordan Brand’s history as well as skateboarding. While I still maintain the “NYC to Paris” was slept on, the clear favorite of the collection was the “LA to CHI.” Combining the unmistakable purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers with a Chicago colorway underneath proved to be a hit for those who decided to keep them Lakeshow themed, those who chose to take advantage of the customizable rub away paint, and everyone in between. An underrated part of this sneaker is the Zoom Air in the heel on the insole, consistent with other SB designs.
–Marco Negrete
Rookie of the Year (2018)
Image via Nike
Michael Jordan’s accomplishments during the 1984-85 season certainly made the Air Jordan 1 the sneaker everyone wanted. Decades after his Airness went to work as a rookie in the AJ1, Jordan Brand decided to go back in time for the Air Jordan 1 “Rookie of the Year.” Inspired by the suit that MJ wore when receiving the accolade, the Air Jordan 1 went premium with the beige nubuck on the toe box, ankle collar, and heel. The white panels with the black Swoosh and outsole brought an elevated and elegant look to the already-highly-revered AJ1. In addition to the homage with the hue, a pop of red on the Nike Air tongue branding and the “wings” of the shoe featuring his stats and a quote from the award ceremony made the shoe a collector’s item and a prized Air Jordan 1. While it definitely deserved its flowers leading up to the releases, newfound love and appreciation for the pair and its story continue to make the shoe an entry on the evergrowing wishlist.
–Luis Torres
Obsidian (2019)
Image via Capsule Toronto
The rise to fame of the Air Jordan 1 in the last decade can be attributed to a lot of reasons (mainly the Shattered Backboard from 2015). But what really cemented the pair as more than just a trend was the “Obsidian” release. The shape, the two-toned execution, and a twist to Jordan’s collegiate days caught the eyes of everyone. In addition to the UNC homage, the tinge of sail to complete the colorway was the perfect contrast and could have possibly been the domino effect of aged sneakers (for better or worse). Despite complaints about “quality” the sneaker was a sell-out and continues to be a great collector’s item, beater, or part of a trade package.
–Luis Torres
Dark Mocha (2020)
Image via Foosh
Here’s a perfect example of a shoe that could have only been a success in recent years. It may come as a surprise to some, but coffee-tinged Jordans took almost 20 years to become as popular as they are today, due in no small part to the Travis Scott effect.
In his feature The Buzz Around Mocha Jordans, Ian Stonebrook pointed out when Mocha Jordans debuted with the Jordan 3 Retro “Mocha”, they were “absolutely panned by purists and too mature for the youth in 2001. Missing the old and the young alike, pairs would eventually be discounted and stick out from their OG peers like a sore thumb. For the remainder of the 2000s, “Mocha” 3s were seldom seen and rarely spoken about.” Travis Scott drops his AJ1 High and the public opinion changes almost overnight. The OG “Mocha” AJ3 and 2018 retro are now moodboard favorites and the stage was set for another AJ1 High.
Complete with “Black Toe” color blocking and familiar coffee-colored suede hits, the AJ1 High “Dark Mocha” dropped on Halloween 2020 to instant acclaim. This shoe is more than just a “Poor Man’s Travis Scott 1” and is in fact a great colorway in its own right. It just took a little convincing to get there.
–Eddie Vargas
