Jordan Brand celebrated the release of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with a special edition Air Jordan 1 release, the Air Jordan 1 “Origin Story.” They matched the pair worn by the film’s hero, Miles Morales, in the animated project.
Into the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse released in 2018. Into the Spider-Verse is one of the best animated films ever made. It took the Spider-Man mythos and did something completely new and exciting with it. The film was a huge hit with Marvel fans, families, and lovers of great filmmaking. Miles Morales, who starred in the film as a new iteration of Spidey, was a normal kid growing up in New York City. Like any normal kid of today, Miles was into Air Jordan sneakers. He wore Air Jordan 1 sneakers in the film, which Jordan Brand released a version of in 2018, the Air Jordan 1 “Origin Story.”
The History Of The Air Jordan 1
It is the 1 that started it all! The Air Jordan 1 not only set up the path for Jordan Brand. It also helped to set up the path for sneaker culture as we know it today.
The 1 That Started It All
The Air Jordan 1 was designed by Peter Moore and was released in 1985. The release was tied to Michael Jordan’s rookie season in the NBA. The design of the Jordan 1 was rather simple and consistent with the other basketball shoes of the era. The Jordan 1 lacked the sophisticated technology that the Jordan Brand would be known for with later installments. Nike was dedicated to giving Michael Jordan his own shoe and brand to grow with. That commitment is clear when you view the shoe’s distinctive logo. Moore designed a wings symbol, a precursor to the Jumpman logo, that was placed on the upper ankle of the shoe.
The Business Of The 1
Michael Jordan signed an endorsement contract with Nike for $2.5 million his rookie year. That looks like clearance aisle pricing today, but at the time many felt MJ, an unproven rookie, didn’t deserve a contract that large.
Banned
When sneakerheads think of the Jordan 1 and colorways, they usually first think of the Jordan 1 “Banned.” The Banned, also known as the “BRED,” featured a black, red, and white colorway. The shoe received that Banned nickname because every time Jordan laced them up, he was fined $5,000 per game.
Today
Today, the NBA allows players to wear almost any shoe they want, no matter the colors or design. In 1985, the league was far more conservative when it came to shoes and the Air Jordan 1 Banned violated league uniform rules. There has been talk that the Banned legend is more fiction than reality. With many speculating that it was all a marketing ploy by the geniuses at Nike. Regardless of the validity of the story, the Banned saga helped to make the Air Jordan 1 a legend.
- Adam C. Better
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