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 honors mainly because of the brand’s seemingly judicious process. So when a brand or entity is given the opportunity to add their own personal twist to one of Michael Jordan’s classic silhouettes, the product is usually something special. From boutiques to celebrities, Jordan Brand’s eye for storytelling is apparent in every collaboration they release, leading to some of today’s 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 Nike’s top silhouettes, such as the Air Max 97, Air Force 1, and Zoom Fly. But the major standout from The Ten was Abloh’s take on the Air Jordan 1. This Air Jordan 1 brought a new look to the traditional Chicago colorway, featuring unstitched leather ankle collars, an off-centered Swoosh, and “AIR” 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 Brand’s most consistent collaborative partners is the entity’s 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 colorways and weaved them together. Union and Jordan Brand dropped two pairs of this unique Jordan 1 concept, one of which was this Black Toe colorway. The Air Jordan 1 Union Black Toe adds the original tumbled leather Black Toe AJ1 colorway 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.
Union LA x Air Jordan 4 Guava Ice & Off Noir
The Air Jordan 4 has been a canvas for some of Jordan Brand’s 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 ‘80s and ‘90s, 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 “Air Jordan” stitched patch. Other elements of the sneaker, such as its plush suede, bold rubber mesh panels, and muted color 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 Maniére x Air Jordan 1 & 3
Although they are a frequent collaborator within the sneaker space, working with brands like Nike, adidas, and Diadora, DC’s A Ma Maniére shop worked with Jordan Brand this year for the first time, tackling both the Air Jordan 1 and 3. A Ma Maniére brought a more luxe feel to the iconic silhouettes, as the project represented Black culture’s 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 News’ Collaboration of the Year in 2021, a high honor within footwear.
J Balvin x Air Jordan 1
For his debut collab, J Balvin added an abundance of color 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 Balvin’s 2020 Colores album, which can easily explain the inspiration behind the sneaker’s design. Radiating full rainbow colors throughout, the sneaker’s upper features both layered tye-die canvas and leather cutouts with jagged edges. Removable Velcro patches of J Balvin’s insignia are added to each pair, giving the wearer multiple styling options. With rumors of J Balvin adding his own take to the Jordan 2 in 2022, Balvin’s trail-blazing moves will hopefully open doors for more Latinx designers to have their own Jordan collabs.
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 Brand’s Fearless pack brought more positive attention to the silhouette. The collection brought a variety of materials and colors to the sneaker model from artist Blue The Great, CLOT’s Edison Chen, and this colorway from designer and Foot Locker’s first female creative director, Melody Ehsani. The multicolored leather upper sneaker is inspired by women’s empowerment and self-expression. Featuring text on the midsole, a watch lace jewel dubré, and a translucent outsole, this Air Jordan 1 Mid is one of the most valuable Mids on StockX, selling for over $900.
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. Dior’s creative director at the time, Kim Jones, had a goal to create “the most luxurious Air Jordan 1 ever”, as the sneaker features Italian leathers, hand-painted accents, and Dior’s signature jacquard on the Swoosh. Due to the limited quantities of the release, the sneakers were only available via raffle on Dior’s site. The sneakers are so valuable that they’re 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 didn’t see a public release and was only gifted to friends and family of the brand. colette, which was regarded as one of France’s 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 shop’s blue and white colors and also features colette’s two-dot logo and stamped 1997 – 2017 on the heels. Lastly, the phrase “Au Revoir” 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 Swoosh’s top silhouettes, such as the Footscape, Dunk, and Air Force 1 to name a few. In 2014, the Fujiwara brought Fragment’s Lightning Bolt moniker to the Air Jordan 1. Dressed in black, white, and Sport Blue leathers, the sneaker is constructed with traditional Black Toe color blocking. The Lightning Bolt logo is showcased on the heel, adding another shoe to Nike and Fragment’s 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 shoe’s 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 colorway. Celebrating the release of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Sony worked with Jordan Brand on this Air Jordan 1, as the film’s protagonist, Miles Morales, is seen wearing the white, red, and black sneaker throughout the film. What differentiates this pair from the MJ’s 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 colorway lookalike at a more obtainable price, as the sneaker is selling for nearly $600 less than the 2015 retro.
Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 1
In 2018, pro BMX biker Nigel Sylvester added a distressed look to the manicured Air Jordan 1. Looking to mimic the scuffs and scrapes from his own personal Air Jordan 1s, his favorite 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.
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 Angeles’ 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 $18K on the secondary market.
