In celebration of “Banned Day,” a look back at every black and red Air Jordan 1 High.
In February 1985, the NBA issued a letter to Nike, notifying them that Michael Jordan’s black and red Nike shoe worn “on or around October 18, 1984,” violated the league’s policy and procedures.
The moment gave birth to Jordan Brand and now a commemorative date on the calendar: Banned Day.
Nike ran with the league’s threat in their marketing with “[t]hey can’t stop you from wearing them” commercial, with Michael Jordan wearing the Air Jordan 1 “Bred” colorway. However, history proved that the Peter Moore-designed Nike Air Ship was the true and original black and red shoe Michael Jordan wore that led to the NBA’s letter.
Despite the slightly embellished origins of Banned Day, the “Bred” Air Jordan 1 remains as one of the most revolutionary sneakers of all-time.
We dove into the history of every Air Jordan 1 “Bred” colorway, from the OG to Satin, and everything in between.
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The OG.
The Air Jordan 1 “Bred” colorway first released in 1985. Later referred to as the “Banned” Air Jordan 1, as the NBA reportedly fined Jordan for wearing the shoe since it did not meet the league’s uniform policy, as it was not composed of 51% white in its design. Nike offered to pick up the fines on Jordan’s behalf and the Air Jordan 1 “Bred” gained notoriety in commercials and even late night talk shows.
The Air Jordan 1 “Bred” was immortalized in basketball lore for its rebellious spirit, defining Michael Jordan and his winning persona, but also aligning with Nike’s vision of going against the grain.
Back for the first time.
In 1994, the Air Jordan 1 “Bred” returned as Jordan Brand issued its first wave of retros, which also included the return of other Air Jordan 1 colorways. Jordan Brand capitalized on what they thought could have been the end of Michael Jordan’s basketball career, as he announced his retirement in the fall of 1993 after the death of his father in the summer. The 1994 version, regarded as one of the best AJ1s due to quality and cuts, also featured a new shape and issued a new box that included several pictures of Jordan, the Air Jordan 1-9, and other shots that made it a collector’s must-have.
New millennium 1s.
Years passed, and it wasn’t until 2001 that the “Bred” concept was revisited on the Air Jordan 1. The shoe had a different collar and toe box. But that wasn’t all. The shade of the red on the AJ1 was more vibrant and strayed away from the darker shade of red used in the 1985 and 1994 releases. For some, it was a well-needed refresher. For others, it was not their cup of tea.
Nearly 10 years later, the “Bred” Air Jordan 1 returned in 2009 as a part of the Air Jordan “Defining Moments Pack” — a dedicated collection that recounted the marquee moments in Michael Jordan’s career, such as his 63-point performance against the Boston Celtics in the 1986 playoffs. The commemorative release included a set of Air Jordan 1 colorways for $225: one “Bred” and one “Celtics” iteration (which was revisited and released with the Air Jordan 1 High OG “Lucky Green” in 2023).
However, the 2009 “Bred” didn’t feature the signature “Nike Air” branding on the tongue and instead went with “Jumpman Air” branding, which took away from the lure of its pure “Bred”-ness. However, it did bring back a darker shade of red than the 2001 version, although it wasn’t as close to the OG in comparison to the 1994 pair. The 2009 Air Jordan 1 “Bred” was polarizing due to many factors. From different branding to the right shade of red, it was close but not perfect to the OG.
Marking the occasion.
Shortly after the “DMP” version of the “Bred” Air Jordan 1, Jordan Brand reintroduced the black and red AJ1 by telling its story through the “Banned” narrative. The 2011 “Banned” Air Jordan 1 referenced the “Banned” ad on the shoe’s liner and also included red “X” on the shoe’s heels. The darker shade of red, the shoe’s limited availability, releasing only at outlets, and the premium leather utilized on the shoe made the “Banned” Air Jordan 1 a fan-favorite.
How it was supposed to be.
The “Bred” fervor reignited in 2013 with the latest iteration that would see the return of OG “Nike Air” branding on the tongue for the first time since 2001. Without any Jumpman or “Banned” branding in sight, the 2013 version was a purist’s dream come true, with the latest colorway being as close to the original as the industry had seen since 1994. Additionally, the 2013 version made its way to traditional retailers, making the shoe a little easier to obtain.
In August 2016, Jordan Brand reissued the AJ1 line with the introduction of the Air Jordan 1 High OG silhouette, the brand’s closest version of the original 1985 shape at the time (the Air Jordan 1 High OG ’85 was introduced in 2020). Though the shape was closer to the OG, the brand added tumbled leather that made consumers appreciate the colorway a lot more. With the shape and colors closer to the original, the 2016 AJ1 was dubbed as “Banned” as well and continues to be celebrated.
Future Forward
On October 18, 2016 — Banned Day — Jordan Brand released one of its rarest “Banned” Air Jordan 1s to date with the Air Jordan 1 High OG “Satin Banned” aka “Satin Bred” colorway. The colorway was released in New York with only 501 pairs in production, which was referenced on the shoe’s lining.
Nearly a year later, Jordan Brand took the “Bred” concept to a new level with the issue of the Air Jordan 1 High Flyknit “Bred” colorway. Heritage met innovation as the legendary AJ1 colorway was remixed in a predominantly Flyknit design. However, the shoe featured leather on the Wings logo and the Swoosh as the brand still wanted to deliver a premium element to the Flyknit AJ1. The Flyknit concept also touched on the “Royal” and “Shadow” AJ1s as well as non-OGs Air Jordan 3s and Air Jordan 4s.
In 2021, Jordan Brand reintroduced the “Bred” AJ1 with a completely new look and feel as the shoe adopted an all-patent leather design. The packaging of the shoe mimicked the shine as the box included a glossy finish. Unofficially, the Air Jordan 1 High OG “Patent Bred” would be the beginning of Jordan Brand’s Reimagined series that has become a franchise for the Jumpman.
Finally in 2023, Jordan Brand revisits the “Bred” legacy for Banned Day as the once-extremely limited Air Jordan 1 “Satin Bred” will release to the masses. This time, the shoe will release exclusively in women’s sizing — the first-ever “Bred” Air Jordan 1 to do so. The 2023 Air Jordan 1 High OG WMNS “Satin Bred” and the 2016 Air Jordan 1 High OG “Satin Banned” aka “Satin Bred” are nearly identical. Though, the 2023 version is packaged in a red and black box instead of black and red, includes a tote bag and isn’t limited to 501 units.
However, whether it’s Air Jordan 1 fatigue or another example of hype only directed to what we can’t have, the 2023 version is under or at retail in the secondary market while the 2016 version can be yours for a few thousand dollars.
Regardless, another “Bred” Air Jordan 1 release is something worth celebrating on any day, especially Banned Day.
