The Air Jordan 1 has been around for the better part of four decades. That's a lot of sneakers. But just when you thought you'd seen it all, Nike goes ahead and unwraps the Air Jordan 1 Brooklyn ‘Black.’ Taking the basketball shoe from the hardwoods of Chicago to the runways of Paris, we've never seen the Michael Jordan silhouette quite like this before. And honestly? It kinda bangs.
If Rick Owens, fashion's reigning Lord of Darkness, had to wear a pair of Air Jordans, it would probably be these. Featuring a full tumbled leather construction, the collar extends way past the ankle for a boot-like aesthetic. An oversized heel tab is stitched around the back so you can slip these on and off with ease, and the tongue is decked out in a nylon construction that looks very sleek.
The best bit though is the ridiculously chunky platform sole. Aggressively designed and slightly brutalist, it's etched with a grid-like pattern and updated with a toothier outsole for extra grip and traction. It's absurdly tall too, so those dreaming of a 6'1 Tinder stat can finally live out the fantasy.
Despite looking completely different, the Air Jordan 1 Brooklyn ‘Black’ still has all of the same features that make its trainer counterpart so recognisable. From the Swoosh that glides across the lateral and medial sidewalls to the perforations dotted along the toebox. Even the midsole, as outrageously gigantic as it is, is infused with Air tech for extra comfort.
This isn't the first time that the Air Jordan 1 has undergone the high fashion treatment. In 2020, Jordan Brand teamed up with Kim Jones for the Dior x Air Jordan 1 High OG. Only 13,000 pairs of these were made globally, and on the day of launch, over 5 million very hopeful sneakerheads tried to cop. Just two years before, Nike launched a sneaker inspired by Vogue's Anna Wintour (the ‘AWOK’ collection, which is shorthand for Anna Wintour Okay).
The Air Jordan 1 Brooklyn ‘Black’ is set to release at Nike, the Snkrs app, and select stockists worldwide within the coming months. An official price has yet to be confirmed, but just like the shoes themselves, expect them to be on the higher side.
