In a time when collaborations have become more frequent and commonplace, a Jordan Brand partnership still manages to be one of the most coveted within sneakers and streetwear. A Jordan collaboration is still considered one of the highest honours mainly because of the brandās seemingly judicious process. So when a brand or entity is given the opportunity to add their own personal twist to one of Michael Jordanās classic silhouettes, the product is usually something special. From boutiques to celebrities, Jordan Brandās eye for storytelling is apparent in every collaboration they release, leading to some of todayās most coveted drops.
Off-White x Air Jordan 1 Chicago
Virgil Abloh changed the landscape of sneaker and streetwear worlds with his signature deconstructed aesthetic. Introducing this style to a wider audience was his debut collection with Nike and Jordan Brand. Dubbed The Ten, the 2017 collection was filled with different styles of some of Nikeās top silhouettes, such as the Air Max 97, Air Force 1, and Zoom Fly. But the major standout from The Ten was Ablohās take on the Air Jordan 1. This Air Jordan 1 brought a new look to the traditional Chicago colourway, featuring unstitched leather ankle collars, an off-centred Swoosh, and āAIRā printed on the midsole. The limited nature of this Air Jordan 1 has made it one of the most sought-after sneakers ever. This was also the first time that Nike or Jordan had allowed just drastic adjustments to classic elements like the Swoosh and actual silhouette, opening the door for a new era of collaboration, and making many of the other features on this list possible.
Union LA x Air Jordan 1 Black Toe
What makes Los Angeles-based boutique, Union LA, one of Jordan Brandās most consistent collaborative partners is the entityās ability to transform a classic silhouette into something new and fresh. Showing their ingenuity is their breakout collab from 2019, where the 32-year-old brand brought two famous Jordan 1 colourways and weaved them together. Union and Jordan Brand dropped two pairs of this unique Jordan 1 concept, one of which was this Black Toe colourway. The Air Jordan 1 Union Black Toe adds the original tumbled leather Black Toe AJ1 colourway to the body of the model, while the throat of the high-top features suede and leather elements taken from the 1985 classic Neutral Grey AJ1. When it was released, the sneaker was praised for its DIY aesthetic and one-of-a-kind look, all while still being an easy-to-wear design.Ā Ā Ā
Union LA x Air Jordan 4 Guava Ice & Off Noir
The Air Jordan 4 has been a canvas for some of Jordan Brandās top-tier collaborators, including KAWS, UNDFTD, and Eminem. Continuing this legacy while adding on their successful string of releases is Union LA with this 2020 collaboration. Chris Gibbs, founder of the shop, wanted to capture elements of the ā80s and ā90s, creating a Jordan 4 that caused a frenzy within the sneaker and streetwear communities. There were mixed reactions to the shoe’s folded nylon tongue design meant to pay homage to the 90s styling of the shoe, where people would fold the tongue over to show the inside āAir Jordanā stitched patch. Other elements of the sneaker, such as its plush suede, bold rubber mesh panels, and muted colour blocking, brought an avant-garde twist to the Jordan classic. In 2021, this unique take on the Jordan 4 returned with another Union collab, this time focusing on the great outdoors, taking inspo from trails and tents.
A Ma ManiƩre x Air Jordan 1 & 3
Although they are a frequent collaborator within the sneaker space, working with brands like Nike, adidas, and Diadora, DCās A Ma ManiĆ©re shop worked with Jordan Brand this year for the first time, tackling both the Air Jordan 1 and 3. A Ma ManiĆ©re brought a more luxe feel to the iconic silhouettes, as the project represented Black cultureās impact and appreciation for luxury goods. Each pair utilized a mix of suede, silk, and premium leather materials throughout, further promoting its lavish rhetoric, while patina accents on the sole, midsole, and upper, provide an aged aesthetic. The project was met with very positive remarks, not only for its looks but for its story. And despite both pairs having high AOVs, collectively, the project has seen close to 20,000 pairs circulate on StockX, which is unheard of for such high-priced sneakers. Making matters more interesting, recently, this Air Jordan 3 was awarded Footwear Newsā Collaboration of the Year in 2021, a high honour within footwear.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
J Balvin x Air Jordan 1
For his debut collab, J Balvin added an abundance of colour to the Air Jordan 1, making the sneaker stand out in more ways than one. Not only was this sneaker one of the brightest Air Jordan 1s to date, but the collaboration crowned J Balvin as one of the first Latinx artists to partner with Jordan Brand. The Jordan 1 release coincided with Balvinās 2020 Colores album, which can easily explain the inspiration behind the sneakerās design. Radiating full rainbow colours throughout, the sneakerās upper features both layered tye-die canvas and leather cutouts with jagged edges. Removable Velcro patches of J Balvinās insignia are added to each pair, giving the wearer multiple styling options. With rumours of J Balvin adding his own take to the Jordan 2 in 2022, Balvinās trail-blazing moves will hopefully open doors for more Latinx designers to have their own Jordan collabs.Ā Ā
Melody Ehsani x Air Jordan 1 Mid Fearless
The Air Jordan 1 Mid is usually regarded by many sneakerheads as a less popular model to its big brother high-top version. But in 2019, Jordan Brandās Fearless pack brought more positive attention to the silhouette. The collection brought a variety of materials and colours to the sneaker model from artist Blue The Great, CLOTās Edison Chen, and this colourway from designer and Foot Lockerās first female creative director, Melody Ehsani. The multicoloured leather upper sneaker is inspired by women’s empowerment and self-expression. Featuring text on the midsole, a watch lace jewel dubrĆ©, and a translucent outsole, this Air Jordan 1 Mid is one of the most valuable Mids on StockX, selling for over Ā£700.Ā
Dior x Air Jordan 1 Low & High
As the streetwear and luxury worlds blend and borrow from one another, the lines between them blur. The Air Jordan 1 is a mainstay within fashion, as people pair the sneaker with streetwear brands like Supreme and Palace to luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Further signifying the merging of these facets of fashion is this 2020 collaboration between Dior and Jordan Brand. Diorās creative director at the time, Kim Jones, had a goal to create āthe most luxurious Air Jordan 1 everā, as the sneaker features Italian leathers, hand-painted accents, and Diorās signature jacquard on the Swoosh. Due to the limited quantities of the release, the sneakers were only available via raffle on Diorās site. The sneakers are so valuable that theyāre is selling for a 300 – 500% price premium.
colette x Air Jordan 1
People at least had a chance to get the Air Jordan 1 Dior through a raffle. But this special release from colette didnāt see a public release and was only gifted to friends and family of the brand. colette, which was regarded as one of Franceās most coveted boutiques since 1997 until it closed its doors in 2017. In that same year, colette was given the opportunity to commemorate its 20 years of business with this Air Jordan 1. The Air Jordan 1 colette is done up in the shopās blue and white colours and also features coletteās two-dot logo and stamped 1997 – 2017 on the heels. Lastly, the phrase āAu Revoirā under the translucent blue outsole gives a final goodbye to the shop. While the shoes were never made available to the public to purchase, in 2019 at StockX we did raffle off a pair to those that donated to Oceana and ocean conservation.
Fragment x Air Jordan 1
The Air Jordan 1 Fragment continues the longstanding partnership between Nike, Jordan Brand, and Hiroshi Fujiwara. Owner of Fragment Design, Fujiwara has added his touch to some of the Swooshās top silhouettes, such as the Footscape, Dunk, and Air Force 1 to name a few. In 2014, the Fujiwara brought Fragmentās Lightning Bolt moniker to the Air Jordan 1. Dressed in black, white, and Sport Blue leathers, the sneaker is constructed with traditional Black Toe colour blocking. The Lightning Bolt logo is showcased on the heel, adding another shoe to Nike and Fragmentās list of collabs. For Many, the Fragment x Air Jordan 1 marked the beginning of the high-end Jordan collaborations that we see every year.
KAWS x Air Jordan 4
Brian Connolly, aka KAWS, is one of the few artists to make a name for themselves within the sneakers, streetwear, and collectibles space – even as that number grows. KAWS is no stranger to working with Nike, but in 2017, he had the opportunity to work with Jordan Brand for the first time, adding his touch to the Air Jordan 4. This Air Jordan 4 boasts KAWS-styled glove details on plush Cool Grey suede. Further expressing the nature of the partnership, his XX motif is added to the heel tab, inner tongue, and insole. In addition to its luxe materials and unique detailing, what makes this sneaker stand out, even more, is the shoeās glow-in-the-dark outsole. While the grey pairs saw some pretty wide release, a black pair was more elusive upon release but is relatively more affordable all these years later.
Air Jordan 1 Origin Story Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Just like Virgil Abloh, this 2018 collaboration brought another new take to the Chicago colourway. Celebrating the release of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Sony worked with Jordan Brand on this Air Jordan 1, as the filmās protagonist, Miles Morales, is seen wearing the white, red, and black sneaker throughout the film. What differentiates this pair from the MJās first sneaker, is the translucent blue outsole, blue and red tongue tag, and reflective spots throughout the upper made to look like Ben-Day dots of classic comic printing. This sneaker is for the true Spider-Man fan, or at least anyone that wants a Chicago colourway lookalike at a more obtainable price, as the sneaker is selling for Ā£500 less than the 2015 retro.
Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 1Ā
In 2018, pro BMX biker Nigel Sylvester added a distressed look to the manicured Air Jordan 1.Ā Looking to mimic the scuffs and scrapes from his own personal Air Jordan 1s, his favourite sneaker to ride in, the Air Jordan 1 Nigel Sylvester features hand-painted distressed marks on the Sail leather upper. Reflective detailing is added to the medial Swoosh as a nod to bike riding at night. This collaboration marked the first time Jordan Brand partnered with a BMX star, and its added success could be one of the reasons why Jordan Brand signed Nigel Slyvester in 2021 as their first-ever BMX rider to join their roster of athletes. All and all, this Air Jordan 1 brings a never-before-seen spin to the high-top model, making it one of the top collaborations from the Jumpman.Ā Ā Ā Ā
UNDFTD x Air Jordan 4
Jordan collaborations are still somewhat new in their existence. The first collaboration to ever occur for the Jumpman was in 2005 with Los Angelesā very own Undefeated. Undefeated, a sneaker and streetwear boutique that has become a mainstay within both industries since 2002, used the Jordan 4 as their canvas for an MA-1 flight jacket-inspired design. Featuring olive green nubuck and orange and black accents, this Air Jordan 4 was extremely limited, with only 72 known pairs in existence. Due to its finite amount and being the first Jordan collab of its kind, this sneaker is considered a grail for many collectors and enthusiasts. As one can imagine, owning a pair comes at a hefty cost, with prices hitting upwards of Ā£15K on the secondary market.