The Air Jordan 1 is without a doubt, one of the most iconic sneakers to have ever been created. Designed by Peter Moore and first hitting the market in 1985, the kicks were Michael Jordan’s first-ever signature pair of sneakers and they remain just as stylish today as they were back in ‘85. While originally designed for performance basketball, in this day and age the silhouette sits firmly within the lifestyle sector, which makes it a popular choice for sneakerheads and fashion fans alike.
As one of the only Air Jordan models to also feature a Nike Swoosh logo, it’s safe to say that the AJ1 is also a sneaker that’s regularly chosen by collaborative parties, meaning we’ve seen some epic limited-edition releases over the years. Here at Crepslocker we’ve selected our 10 favourite Air Jordan 1s of all time, so join us as we take a look at some serious sneakers, you might even learn a thing or two along the way!
Air Jordan 1 High OG “Black Toe”
First up in our list is none other than the Air Jordan 1 High OG “Black Toe”. As one of the very first colourways of the Jordan 1 to hit the market back in 1985, it’s no surprise that many sneakerheads regard this pair as legendary. Worn in the now-iconic photo of MJ that inspired the Jumpman logo, these kicks showcase Chicago Bulls colours, although they were actually rarely-worn by MJ himself during the early days. Having re-released multiple times over the years, we last saw this colourway drop in 2016, which means we’re well overdue another retro by now…
Union LA x Air Jordan 1 High OG “Black Toe” & “Storm Blue”
As part of the first ever effort between Union LA and Jordan Brand (now frequent collaborators), the duo launched two colourways of the Air Jordan 1 inspired by the OG 1985 pairs. Elements from the “Neutral Grey”, and “Black Toe” are seen on the first variant, whereas a second “Storm Blue” pair offers up a never-before-seen look that was ultra-limited upon release. Both pairs came in special edition boxes and featured yellow “UN/LA” tags near the collars.
Air Jordan 1 High OG “Shadow”
Another OG AJ1 colourway makes our list, this time in the form of the Air Jordan 1 High OG “Shadow”. Offering a stripped-back take on the silhouette, the pair offers up an entirely-leather construction with black and grey hues throughout. Often favoured as a winter pair due to its resilience from the elements, the Jordan 1 Shadow remains popular as ever, with its last retro release being in 2018. The pair has even inspired more contemporary colourways such as the Air Jordan 1 High “Reverse Shadow” that dropped in 2021.
Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 High OG SP “Mocha”
Travis Scott has always held a notable position within the sneaker world, with his collaborative releases often highly-coveted amongst collectors, however he was really propelled into the big league after the launch of his Air Jordan 1 OG SP “Mocha” in 2019. Showcasing OG colour-blocking combined with his signature reverse Swoosh, the sneaker community quite literally went wild for this release. Finished with a stash pocket at the collar and red details, this pair remains one of the most in-demand Air Jordan 1s even today.
Air Jordan 1 High OG “Dark Mocha”
After the success of Travis Scott’s aforementioned release, Jordan Brand had another trick up its sleeve with the AJ1 High OG “Dark Mocha”. Borrowing the popular colourway seen across the Cactus Jack pair, this release wasn’t a collaboration of any form, and swapped out the toe boxes for a traditional “Black Toe” look. Travis or not, it’s safe to say that the demand for this pair was still huge, with many even preferring this pair due to the regular Swoosh. Still reselling for over three times the retail price, the hype behind this pair doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Off-White x Air Jordan 1 High OG “Chicago”
First launched back in 2017 as part of the late Virgil Abloh’s “The Ten” collection, the OW x AJ1 High OG “Chicago” is perhaps one of the greatest collaborative AJ1s of all time. Easily the most popular pair of the pack, the sneakers look to the 1985 “Chicago” colourway for inspiration, with Off-White treating the pair to a brand-new deconstructed look. Signature Virgil details such as neon laces, an industrial zip tie and “AIR” branding are all present here, making this hyped pair unmistakeable on the streets.
Air Jordan 1 High OG “Shattered Backboard”
Inspired by the time that Michael Jordan quite literally shattered a glass backboard on a basketball hoop due to the sheer power of his throws, the AJ1 High OG “Shattered Backboard” first hit the market in 2015. Showcasing a neat arrangement of orange, white and black, the kicks follow an OG colour-blocking pattern and have since inspired the “Reverse Shattered Backboard” and “Shattered Backboard 3.0” pairs. There’s no doubt that this simple yet effective colourway deserves a spot within our list.
fragment design x Air Jordan 1 High OG
Hiroshi Fujiwara’s fragment design label has been a serious force to be reckoned with across the streetwear and sneaker space for many years, however things were turned up a notch when the brand joined forces with Jordan Brand in 2014. Combining “Black Toe” and “Royal Blue” colour blocking for the first time ever, the sneakers were treated to a barely-visible fragment design motif embossed onto the lateral heel. A true embodiment of an “If You Know You Know” pair of sneakers. It’s safe to say that the three-way collaboration between Travis Scott, fragment design and Air Jordan would never have happened without this pair.
Dior x Air Jordan 1 High
Bursting onto the scene back in 2020, the Dior x Air Jordan 1 marks an incredible fusion between luxury fashion and sneakers. Championed by Kim Jones, this collaborative pair is widely-regarded as the best quality AJ1 ever made. Handcrafted in Italy using real Italian leather, the sneakers are decked out in an ultra-clean grey and white colourway, with Dior’s signature Oblique pattern present across each Swoosh logo. Coming complete with an “Air Dior” hang tag, these kicks retailed for a whopping £1,800 back then, with the resale price now nearing triple that figure.
Air Jordan 1 High OG “Chicago”
The one that started it all, the AJ1 High OG “Chicago” first launched in 1985 and remains one of the best-looking sneakers of all time. Decked out in a mix of red, white and black, the sneakers are iconic and easily complete pretty much any outfit. Acting as the inspiration behind countless collaborations over the years, the Chicago's top our list every time. Even the recent “Chicago Reimagined” pair from back in 2022 look effortlessly good.
