Jordan 1 Mid

Air Jordan 1 Mid

After the 1985 release of the Air Jordan 1, its instant success meant that it was quickly reworked into new designs and styles based on the original high-top basketball shoe. One of those models was the Jordan 1 Mid – an equally supportive sneaker with the same dynamic appearance and a slightly lower collar that allowed flexibility of movement around the ankle. Like its High and Low counterparts, the Mid has become a beloved silhouette that is now available in a huge range of styles and compositions, including men’s designs, smaller versions for kids and sneakers with a shape more appropriate to women.

More than a dozen colourways came out in the Jordan 1’s outstanding first year, many of which have been repeated as Mids in the time since. The Bred and Banned models, retroed in 2018 and 2020 respectively, have a similar black and red upper to the 80s original, which received both nicknames at the time, one for its look, the other for the story behind its prohibition from the NBA. The Jordan 1 Mid Chicago also references an OG colourway through its use of red and black colour-blocking, but its larger section of white, which extends to the toe box and midfoot, gives it a brighter appearance. Other notable Retro mid-top AJ1s that give a nod to the earliest pairs are the Bred Toe, with its distinctive red toe box, the Shadow, with its sophisticated black and grey upper, the blue on black Hyper Royal – a take on 1985’s Royal – and the timeless black and white colourway, today referred to as the Panda. Meanwhile, the ever-popular UNC came out in 2013 as a retro of the Carolina Blue, whose light blue overlays pay homage to Michael Jordan’s time at the University of North Carolina.

Honouring the past is a common theme for the Air Jordan 1 Mid, and many of its releases have been inspired by important parts of its story, such as its basketball heritage and Jordan’s journey to becoming the best basketball player in the world. The Space Jam, for example, is based on the Jordan 11 worn by Michael in the 1996 film of the same name, its black patent leather overlays giving it a sleek appearance, and a Mid SE known as the Diamond commemorates 75 years of the NBA with a diamond Jumpman logo on the tongue that has featured on other Jordan apparel. Then there is the Shattered Backboard, which emulates the black, white and orange colour scheme of the jersey Michael was wearing when he famously broke the backboard during an exhibition game in Italy. Another sneaker that memorialises a specific game is the black and white Carbon Fiber, which was added to the All-Star series. Some AJ1 Mids have even recognised specific basketball franchises, as is the case with the Lakers colourway, which has purple overlays and golden yellow swooshes to match those of the team. Meanwhile, the rich green overlays and yellow collar of the Sonics colourway pay homage to the former Seattle franchise.

As well as designs influenced by specific people, places and events, there are many other appealing Jordan 1 Mids in all sorts of colour combinations. There are monochrome ones, like the elegant Triple White and the suave Triple Black, and two-tone ones, like the black and white Homage, whose colours switch halfway across the shoe for a divided look that features on several colourways with the Split moniker. Other Mids have a mostly dichromatic build but incorporate finer details in a third hue. These include the Tan Gum, whose beige and white upper is underpinned by a gum outsole, and the Obsidian, whose golden tongue branding stands out against the navy and white tones that surround it.

In addition to these, there is a vast array of Air Jordan 1 Mid colourways that use heritage colour-blocking by combining three hues, normally white and black alongside a third tone. One of the most notable examples of this style is the Taxi, with its flashes of radiant yellow, while the popular University Blue models feature charming sky blue tones. Another is the Light Smoke Grey, whose grey overlays sit beside an eye-catching black swoosh with white stitching around its edge. Elsewhere, the overlays of the Coconut Milk display a delicate off-white tone, and those on the heel of the Ice Blue are a pale shade of azure. The deep blue leather panels of the Armory Navy create a bolder expression, as does the rich green tumbled leather of the Pine Green and the contrasting dark purple and black sections of the Dark Concord. Vibrant tones appear across the striking golden overlays of the University Gold, the bright red sections of the Gym Red and the vivid blue swooshes on the Racer Blue. Meanwhile, soft pink hues can be found on the Crimson Tint, and a pale shade of the same colour shows up subtly against the white of the graceful Barely Rose.

Many other mid-top Jordan 1s forego the use of black while keeping the classic white base layer for a clean finish. The True Blue and Wolf Grey both have differing combinations of grey and blue, and the Stealth colourway features off-white tones to offset its light grey overlays, as does the dapper Linen, which is also known as College Grey. Chic pink hues alternate across the leather panels of the Valentine’s Day editions, while different shades occur on the Hyper Pink and the Digital Pink. Yet more models incorporate a greater range of colours, such as the Dutch Green, with its pair of green tones contrasting against its black swooshes, pink laces and golden Wings logo. Then there is the Edge Glow, which has a whole host of luminous tones from fuchsia to neon yellow, and the stunning outer of the Multi-Color, whose many hues are too numerous to name. The assemblage of designs that make up the Fearless series, including the lively Maison Château Rouge and the dynamic Blue the Great, are also decorated with a wide range of bright colours.

Along with this ever-growing collection of captivating colourways, there are those Air Jordan 1 Mids that distinguish themselves through the use of quality materials other than the traditional leather. The Metallic Gold and Signal Blue, for example, simply opt for shiny patent leather to give them a luminous glow. Luxurious suede is another popular alternative, having been used on the Particle Grey and the stately Paris models, among others. The Elephant Print also integrates this soft material to augment the intriguing graphic across its forefoot, as does the Mid SE Craft Inside Out and the other models in this series, all of which have a reworked upper with exposed stitching, an inverted toe box and a dropped heel tab. Meanwhile, the earthy tones of the Milan colourway are spread across an assortment of fabrics, such as corduroy, suede and other textiles, and the dashing browns of the women’s Dark Chocolate edition have been blended together through nubuck, suede and quilted fabric, before a fleecy lining completes things on the inside of the collar.

This vast assemblage of desirable colourways just shows how successful the Air Jordan 1 Mid has become since its inception over three decades ago. In offering a third option alongside the low- and high-tops, it broadened the reach of the iconic original, becoming one of the most well-regarded silhouettes on the planet in the process. New designs are constantly being added to the line, ensuring that the future is bright for the legendary Jordan 1 Mid.