To this day, the Air Jordan 1 “Bred” sneakers are one of the most recognized shoes in the history of the sneaker industry. Nearly four decades after its initial release, this iconic shoe is reportedly making a comeback in 2025.

The “Bred” shoes are known for their black and red “Bred” colorway and their place in basketball and fashion history. The shoe was first introduced by Nike in 1985 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. Nevertheless, the Air Jordan 1 “Bred” has a permanent place in the hearts of sneakerheads around the world. The sneakers were designed by Peter Moore. He is an American designer who has been the creative director of Nike and Adidas.

OG Air Jordan 1 “Bred”

The origin of the Air Jordan 1 “Bred” goes back to a pivotal moment in Michael Jordan’s career. Designed primarily by Peter Moore, the shoe was one of the original colorways of the Air Jordan 1 series.

It featured a bold black and red color scheme. However, Michael Jordan wasn't initially convinced by the design. He reportedly told Moore:

“I can’t wear these colors. These are the colors of the devil.”

Despite his initial reluctance, former basketball player Jordan eventually agreed to wear the sneakers.

The color name of the shoe “Bred” is a mix of “black” and “red”. It is sometimes referred to as “Banned” by fans due to the NBA ban. Although the National Basketball Association's uniform guidelines at the time required shoes to be primarily white, Jordan wore a black and red pair of sneakers in his rookie year. This was a clear violation of the league's uniform color rules. Therefore, it was “banned” by the NBA.

Nike decided to launch a marketing campaign for the Air Jordan 1 that focused on this “ban.” This campaign effectively made the “Bred” colorway appear as a “symbol of rebellion.” As a result, the shoes quickly became a cultural phenomenon in the sportswear industry.

Below is what the official Nike SNRKS had to say about the shoe:

“The black and red Air Jordan 1 has been synonymous with His Airness for over 35 years and shines in new splendor like never before this season. Made famous by its “forbidden” mythology and MJ's majestic leaps in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, this edition is covered in patent leather, adding a touch of luxury to one of MJ's most iconic looks.

The Air Jordan 1 “Bred” features an upper made entirely of leather. The two-tone color scheme consists of deep red and bold black. These colors supposedly reference the Chicago Bulls, the team Jordan famously played for.

The upper is mostly black, with red on the toe box, ankle collar and the iconic Nike Swoosh. The toe section of the shoes adds a touch of contrast with its rich red color. The sneaker features a simple 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 version is expected to be closer to the original 1985 version compared to others.

Although the release date has not been officially announced, it is reported that it is scheduled to be released on February 14, 2025 at a price of around $250.

Fans can keep an eye on the official pages for more updates.