This Women’s-Exclusive Air Jordan 1 Riffs on a Beloved Colorway for the Shoe’s 40th Anniversary
Jordan Brand’s 40th anniversary celebration for its seminal shoe won’t stop at the much-hyped Air Jordan 1 “Bred” release this month.
The Air Jordan 1 “Ruby” is a women’s-exclusive release coming this spring that riffs on the “Bred Toe” colorway that debuted in 2018. While the color blocking remains the same, the red panels take on a cracked and reflective look intended to mimic gemstone for 40th anniversaries. The wings logo also appears as a separate leather panel atop the collar, but apart from those two details it’s a dead ringer for the shoe from seven years ago.
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The “Bred Toe” colorway itself is nearly identical to the shoe’s original “Black Toe” edition, with the key difference of the vamp being rendered in red. Because of how fickle Jordan fans can be about staying true to the originals, such a change could have been controversial but ended up being quite well-received.
This month will also see the return of the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe,” albeit with “Air Jordan” text replacing the Wings logo as the latest in Jordan Brand’s “Reimagined” series. The change in branding matches a sample held by Michael Jordan in promotional images from 1985 but that never released to the public.
Union is getting in on the February of the Air Jordan 1 as well, as its mash-up of the “Shadow” and “Bred” editions will release on the last day of the month.
The Air Jordan 1 Women’s “Ruby” will release May 22 through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $180.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
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