To date, the Air Jordan 1 “Bred” sneaker remains one of the most iconic shoes in the history of the worldwide sneaker industry. Nearly four decades after its initial release, the legendary shoe is said to be making a comeback in 2025.
The black and red “Bred” shoes are famous for their place in basketball and fashion history. The shoe was first introduced in 1985 by Nike in collaboration with Michael Jordan, the legendary former basketball player.
At the time, a shoe with a high-top silhouette was relatively uncommon. Nike and Jordan have produced countless models since then. However, the Air Jordan 1 “Bred” has held a firm place in the hearts of sneakerheads around the world. The sneakers were designed by Peter Moore. He is an American designer and was the creative director of both Nike and Adidas.
OG Air Jordan 1 “Bread”
The Air Jordan 1 “Bred” originates from a pivotal moment in Michael Jordan’s career. The shoe, designed primarily by Peter Moore, was one of the original colorways of the Air Jordan 1 series.
It features a bold black and red color scheme. However, Michael Jordan wasn’t initially sold on the design. He reportedly told Moore,
“I can’t wear those colors. Those are the devil’s colors.”
Despite his initial hesitation, former basketball player Jordan eventually agreed to wear the sneakers.
The color name of the shoe, “Bred”, is a combination of “black” and “red”. It is also sometimes referred to as “banned” by fans due to the context of the NBA ban. Although at the time, National Basketball Association uniform guidelines required shoes to be primarily white, Jordan wore a pair of black and red sneakers during his rookie year. This was a clear violation of the league’s uniform color rules. She was then “banned” by the NBA.
Nike decided to launch a marketing campaign for the Air Jordan 1, centered around this “ban.” This campaign effectively made the “Bred” color appear as a “symbol of rebellion.” As a result, the shoes quickly became a cultural phenomenon in the sportswear industry.
Here’s what official Nike SNRKS had to say about the shoe:
“A colorway synonymous with its air for over 35 years, the Black and Red Air Jordan 1 returns this season to shine like never before. Famed for its ‘Banned’ legend and MJ’s majestic jumps during the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, this release is covered in patent leather “An invention, adding a touch of luxury to one of MJ’s most legendary looks.”
The Air Jordan 1 “Bred” features an all-leather upper. The two-tone color scheme features bold red and stark black. These colors are said to be a nod to the Chicago Bulls, the team for which Jordan famously played.
The upper is mostly black, with red found on the vamp, ankle collar, and iconic Nike Swoosh logo. The vamp adds a touch of contrast with its rich red color. The sneaker features a clean white midsole that separates the upper from the rubber outsole.
The Air Jordan 1 “Bred” has been re-released several times over the years, but the upcoming 2025 release is expected to be closer to the original 1985 version than the others.
While a release date has yet to be officially announced, it is said to drop on February 14, 2025 with a price tag of around $250 USD.
Fans can keep their eyes on the official pages for more updates.
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Edited by Medit Arora
