All-Star Weekend is without a doubt one of the most important periods in the sneaker calendar. For brands, it gives them a chance to showcase their shoes on the court as well as the street. Some of the most iconic shoes in sneaker history have debuted across ASW, including the “Galaxy” Foamposites. With ASW taking place in Chicago this year, it seems only right that Nike and Jordan Brand pays homage to Michael Jordan, recruiting Virgil Abloh to do so.
After months of patiently waiting, the Off-White™ x Jordan 5 is almost here. The fourth Air Jordan that Abloh has worked on sees him move away from his usual aesthetic and into something new; redefining the idea of Nike Air itself.
This new design sees the Chicago native reimagine the very first pair of Air Jordans that he would own, the Black Metallic 5s. With this in mind, he worked with Nike to find out more about the concept of Nike Air, revealing that ” Nike did a survey around the world, and in some places, people had the impression that Nike Air is more pure than actual air.” This idea is what has inspired Abloh to redesign his very first Jordan, abstracting the idea of Nike Air completely.
It’s safe to say that Abloh truly has reimagined this sneaker from the bottom up. The faded black nylon upper uses holes throughout, interweaving the concept of Nike Air directly into the design itself. Familiar details such as the text on the medial side and shoelaces can also be seen. A zip tie is attached to the laces, a link found on all Off-White™ sneakers. A black midsole with a yellow outsole gives the shoe its OG yet modern design.
If you’re looking to cop this weekend then good luck.
Image Source: Nike
