2019 is counting down soon, and with the new year approaching the corner, we take a look back at some of the best shoes that dropped over the past few months. Jordan 1s take center stage when it comes to the garnering the most heat, much more so amongst the others. Hence, we’ve compiled a list of the best Jordan 1 colourways to have been released.
Rookie Of The Year
Quite unlike any other. The ‘Rookie Of The Year’ presents as the middle ground between normal Jordan models while taking a bit of a collaborative standpoint in the form of unstitched collar wings ala Off-White. The Beige colour used is a reflection of Jordan’s suit when he was presented with the ROTY award. The wings too have hidden details printed on the inside, stating his season performance and an excerpt of his acceptance speech, famously saying that it should be more about the team rather than him. A fresh take, that doesn’t refer back to the original line of colourways while still extending MJ’s legacy and translating it into the shoe.
Union Los Angeles
A throwback to the good old days back in the 90s. Interestingly, to communicate the release and stick in line with the concept, streetwear store Union actually revealed the sneaker at the vintage Rose Bowl Flea Market, and visitors who came by and questioned the shoe were caught with a hidden camera expressing their concerns on whether it’s a custom or a fake. 90s “vintage” street fashion was the main source of inspiration, as iconic colourways of the Air Jordan 1 are remixed. Details are everywhere, from exposed stitching, mismatched colours, and the UNLA tag underneath the Wings logo with yellow borders for the big panels. It’s one to cop for sure.
Not For Resale
A strenuous exercise in satire. Following the ‘Bred Toe’ format of blocking, the the AJ1 ‘Not For Resale’ also includes cheeky stabs at the resell culture with Not For Resale wording on the midsole, No Photos stitched on the heel, Please Crease on the toebox, and Wear Me on the tongue to encourage users to actually wear the shoe. Whether this sort of marketing is effective at all is another story altogether, but an attempt at this should be lauded as well as giving us a good chuckle.
Satin Shattered Backboard
All the colours of the SBB, elevated some more with generous use of satin, giving it a next level luxury feel. Also because it looks unlike any other Air Jordan 1s with its shiny exterior. You’ll be sure to pull a few looks when it’s on feet.
SoleFly Art Basel
In conjunction with Art Basel Miami, the homegrown retailer collaborates with Jordan Brand and closest out the year with one of the best looking colourways this side of Jordan since a long time. In true Miami spirit, the SoleFly Air Jordan 1 gets colour blocked in the Miami Hurricane palette. Key details are also present, paying homage to state. Inside of the tongue read “305” and “MIA” while a new Wings logo is debossed on the heel. As with all pretty colours, the SoleFly Air Jordan 1 is extremely limited, and drops exclusively at Art Basel Miami. Good luck getting a pair of these.
Court Purple/ Pine Green/ Bred Toe
I think we can class all three of these together, as they practically only swap out different colours, but retain the same blocking. All three get the same Sail leather that gives a slightly vintage look and paired with uprated leather, make these some of the best non-OG colours to ever grace the Jordan 1 silhouette. Evidently more so as people were lining up to purchase outside of JD Sports by the droves.
Off-White “UNC”
As an extension of Virgil Abloh’s ‘The Ten’ series, the UNC takes an alternate turn by colouring the reds, and replacing it with Carolina University Blue while still retaining the same concept. In a sense, hype from the ‘Chicago’ dripped onto the “UNC,” as people who aren’t able to afford and buy the original Off-White “Chicago” colourway dropped cash for these instead. It was an immensely popular one too, as more and more pairs made themselves present in the public, and at sneaker conventions all over Malaysia.
Shadow
One of the most coveted colourways, the ‘Shadow,’ as it’s called by its liberal use of grey on the toebox, swoosh, heel cup and wings, the model got a re-release after originally dropped in 2013. Simple, easy to like, and just enough pop to let people know that you’re wearing Jordan 1s without screaming it out. Classy
