One of Michael Jordan’s Obscure Air Jordan 1 Samples From 1985 Will Soon Release for the First Time
The 40th anniversary of the Air Jordan 1 continues to be the year that keeps on giving, as Fragment founder Hiroshi Fujiwara has revealed an obscure sample from 1985 that will soon release for the first time.
The Air Jordan 1 High “Irregular Shadow” plays on the color blocking of “Shadow,” an original black and grey colorway from 1985 that did release. The flip sees black leather form the base of the shoe and grey leather taking over each of the overlays, Swoosh and all. Grey is also used for the outsole, while the midsole appears to take on a faux-aged treatment. It isn’t called a “Reverse,” because the changes don’t come as a mirror image like many sneakers carrying the name.
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Spearheading Jordan Brand’s 40th anniversary of the sneaker that started it all was last month’s Air Jordan 1 “Bred” release, which executed the shoe’s original proportions and materials to a degree never previously achieved. Only 23 stores in the U.S. stocked the sneaker, which was reportedly only made in a run of 10,000 pairs.
Although not nearly as hyped, and still easily purchased, the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe Reimagined” also dropped in February as the first production of another sample from 1985. “Air Jordan” text appears on the shoe’s collar rather than the Wings logo that’s one of the signatures of the silhouette. This anomaly could be seen on a pair Michael Jordan held for a 40-year-old promotional photo, which was printed on the box for the new release.
A Union Air Jordan 1 “I’m Back” collaboration also mashed up the “Shadow” and “Chicago” colorways and will release through the Snkrs app soon after an initial launch through the boutique.
Not a tremendous amount has been documented on the “Irregular Shadow” sample, but it can be seen in the Japanese book “Nike Chronicle Extra 1984-1986,” as noted on social media by the known Jordan aficionado Kenneth Myers Jr, aka @MrUnloved1s.
A firm release date hasn’t been set for the Air Jordan 1 “Irregular Shadow,” but it will reportedly drop at some point during the summer through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $200.
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