Unlike a standard retro, a \u201cReimagined\u201d version aims to get the shape of the latest release as close to the original as possible, but also plays with new materials like patent leather, suede, and leather, in order to retell a different story of the silhouette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We take a detailed look at each colorway of the Reimagined series from debut to changes throughout retros and what makes the Reimagined colorway different from its predecessors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Text KICKS to 23123 to stay on top of the latest Air Jordan releases<\/a> and news. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cPatent Bred\u201d predates the official Reimagined series. Nonetheless, the use of an all-patent leather upper instead of the shoe\u2019s traditional all-leather design deemed it worthy and memorable enough to include in this list as the shoe foreshadowed the Reimagined series that would become a franchise for Jordan Brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Air Jordan 1 \u201cBred\u201d colorway first released in 1985. Later referred to as the \u201cBanned\u201d Air Jordan 1 as the NBA reportedly fined Jordan and Nike for wearing the shoe as it didn\u2019t uphold the league\u2019s uniform policy since the shoe was not composed of 51% white in its design. The \u201cBanned\u201d story was born and the Air Jordan 1 \u201cBred\u201d gained notoriety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Air Jordan 1 \u201cBred\u201d returned in 1994 as Jordan Brand issued its first wave of retros, which also included the return of other Air Jordan 1 colorways and even the return of the \u201cWhite Cement\u201d Air Jordan 3 and others. Jordan Brand capitalized on what they thought could\u2019ve been the end of Michael Jordan playing basketball as he announced his retirement in the fall of 1993 after the death of his father in the summer. The 1994 version 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\u2019s must-have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It wasn\u2019t until 2001 that the \u201cBred\u201d concept was revisited on the Air Jordan 1. The shoe had a different collar and toe box. But that wasn\u2019t all. The shade of the red on the AJ1 was more vibrant and strayed away from the darker shade of red that was used on the 1985 and 1994 releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Almost a decade later and the \u201cBred\u201d Air Jordan 1 returned 2009 as a part of the Air Jordan \u201cDefining Moments Pack\u201d \u2014 dedicated collection that retold the marquee moments in Michael Jordan\u2019s 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 \u201cBred\u201d and one \u201cCeltics\u201d iteration (which was revisited and released with the Air Jordan 1 High OG \u201cLucky Green\u201d in 2023). However, the 2009 \u201cBred\u201d didn\u2019t feature the signature \u201cNike Air\u201d branding on the tongue and instead went with \u201cJumpman Air\u201d branding, which took away from the lure of its pure \u201cBred\u201d-ness. However, it did bring back a darker shade of red than the 2001 version although it wasn\u2019t as close as the OG in comparison to the 1994 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shortly after the \u201cDMP\u201d version of the \u201cBred\u201d Air Jordan 1, Jordan Brand reintroduced black and red AJ1 by telling it through the \u201cBanned\u201d story. The 2011 \u201cBanned\u201d Air Jordan 1 referenced the \u201cBanned\u201d ad on the shoe\u2019s liner and also included red \u201cX\u201d on the shoe\u2019s heels. The darker shade of red, the shoe\u2019s limited availability releasing only at outlets, and the premium leather utilized on the shoe made the \u201cBanned\u201d Air Jordan 1 a fan-favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cBred\u201d fervor reignited in 2013 with the latest iteration that would see the return of OG \u201cNike Air\u201d branding on the tongue for the first time since 2001. Without any Jumpman or \u201cBanned\u201d branding in sight, the 2013 version was a purist\u2019s 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 get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, in 2016, Jordan Brand reissued the AJ1 line with the introduction of the Air Jordan 1 High OG silhouette\u2013the brand\u2019s closest version of the original 1985 pair at the time (the Air Jordan 1 High OG \u201885 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 \u201cBanned\u201d as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first official Reimagined shoe started with the \u201cChicago\u201d AKA \u201cLost and Found\u201d Air Jordan 1. With aged details, the shoe\u2019s story was centered around going into old stock rooms and mom-and-pop shops and finding deadstock for cheap. In the era of secondary marketplaces, the hunt has become digitized but, Jordan Brand called back to the era of going through back-stocked inventories storage basement to find hidden gems. Packaging also included an aged box with a \u201cmismatched\u201d top and a receipt with a discount price from a small-scale boutique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cChicago\u201d Air Jordan 1 High released in 1985 but didn\u2019t carry controversy like its \u201cBred\u201d\/\u201dBanned\u201d counterpart. With a primarily white leather base, the shoe was seen on Michael Jordan during games more often than not due to the NBA\u2019s dress code. Retailing for only $65 back in \u201885, the OG \u201cChicago\u201d remains one of the culture\u2019s favorite \u2014 and least revisited\u2013AJ1 creations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As \u201cBred\u201d returned in 1994 for its first-ever retro, so did the \u201cChicago\u201d colorway. The shape of the tongue, the Swoosh\u2019s thinness, and collar height varied from the OG to the 1994 version. Nevertheless, fans still rave about the 1994 version for its quality, shape, and overall wearability. And, of course, the special box added another layer of storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cChicago\u201d Air Jordan 1 would become unseen in the industry for nearly 20 years until the 2013 retro of the Air Jordan 1 brought back the colorway. However, the shoe didn\u2019t include the OG design specs of the \u201cNike Air\u201d tongue branding. Instead, the Jumpman was found on the tongue of the shoe as well as the heel\u2013a design choice that was common on AJ1s at the time. But despite that, the rarity of the \u201cChicago\u201d AJ1 made the Jumpman-infused colorway an instant sellout and a must-have for collectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, just two years later, the Air Jordan 1 High \u201cChicago\u201d was seen with original \u201cNike Air\u201d branding for the first time since 1994. With no Jumpman branding in sight, collectors were finally able to get their hands on a nearly 1-to-1 recreation of Michael Jordan\u2019s most worn AJ1 during his time as a Chicago Bull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second issue of the Reimagined series revisited the iconic Air Jordan 3 \u201cWhite Cement\u201d colorway. With its original \u201cNike Air\u201d branding, the shoe also featured new details such as an aged boxed, off-white details on the heel tab, midsole that was already pre-aged, and a pamphlet with OG tech specs like the 1988 version had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the Air Jordan 1 will always remain as a fan favorite, the Air Jordan 3 is arguably one of the most legendary sneakers of all-time. Tinker Hatfield\u2019s first creation with Nike for Michael Jordan took things to a new level with the use of elephant print, the \u201cNike Air\u201d license plate-esque heel tab, and the debut of the Jumpman logo on the tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the 1988 All-Star Weekend in Chicago, Michael Jordan participated in the Dunk Contest and delivered the iconic free throw line dunk in the \u201cWhite Cement\u201d Air Jordan 3. The shoe became cemented in basketball history and became a marquee shoe for collectors because of that moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1994, as the Air Jordan 1 received the retro treatment, the Air Jordan 3 \u201cWhite Cement\u201d reappeared in 1994 with the signature special box highlighting MJ\u2019s career. The thin elephant print, the \u201cNike Air\u201d branding and the shape of the \u201894 version became a classic after the fact as most of the 1994 retros didn\u2019t commercially do well since the retro concept was new for consumers. Nonetheless, the shoe became grail-worthy for collectors as time passed with a pair reselling for $1,600+<\/a> as recent as 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The AJ3 \u201cWhite Cement\u201d returned in 2003. The slight differences on the second- retro of the colorway included variation in the elephant print design as well as the hue of the print itself being lighter on the 2003 version. The main difference, however, was the shoe\u2019s use of the \u201cJumpman Air\u201d branding on the heel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2011, it returned again. Not only was the shape of the tongue and toe box different, but the elephant print was more pronounced on this one, much like the original. Despite having thicker lines on the print, the darker hue appeased fans a lot more than the 2003 version. However, the 2011 \u201cWhite Cement\u201d Air Jordan 3 marked the first time consumers wanted the OG \u201cNike Air\u201d branding instead of the \u201cJumpman Air\u201d on the heel tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jordan Brand celebrated the 25th anniversary of the iconic free throw line dunk with a remastered Air Jordan 3 \u201cWhite Cement\u201d that included the \u201cNike Air\u201d heel branding for the first time since 1994. The shape was closer to the original than its predecessors and included even darker and thicker elephant print design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2018, the 30th anniversary of the silhouette and the dunk were celebrated in Los Angeles for the 2018 All-Star Weekend as Jordan Brand retold the free throw line dunk like never before. The colorway featured “3:51” on the back pull tab to commemorate the moment Jordan took flight and “147” on the tongue to reference his final dunk score. However, an icy blue outsole and a red stripe on one of the outsoles to reference the free throw line dunk made it more of a commemoration than it did fulfill the originality that purists were yearning for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Reimagined series continues on the Air Jordan 1 High OG as the \u201cRoyal\u201d colorway gets its third retro. Instead of its signature all-leather upper, the shoe is constructed in an all-suede look with a vibrant royal blue and black hue. The shoe is also packaged in a matching box instead of the traditional black and red AJ1 packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While black, red, and white are tied most to the Air Jordan line, \u201cRoyal\u201d is one of the few non-Bulls color themes that has become ingrained into the Jordan legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It released in 1985 and despite Michael Jordan not wearing it in-game, the Air Jordan 1 High \u201cRoyal\u201d remains high on the list for sneakerheads due to its originality and cultural moments such as the matching flight suits, original ads, and even wearing them during a pick-up game with a cruise ship crew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the shoe wouldn\u2019t be brought back until 2001. The shape was drastically different from the OG with a shortened collar and a rounder toe box and the shades of blue and black were darker as well. Nonetheless, the 2001 version still had the \u201cNike Air\u201d branding and brought back the perfect amount of nostalgia for fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It would be more than a decade for the \u201cRoyal\u201d Air Jordan 1 to return. The 2013 Air Jordan 1 High \u201cRoyal\u201d featured the brightest shade of blue on a \u201cRoyal\u201d to date and still included the \u201cNike Air\u201d branding. Much like the \u201cBred\u201d Air Jordan 1 from 2013, the \u201cRoyal\u201d was just as popular and well-received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shortly after, the Air Jordan 1 High \u201cRoyal\u201d was released in 2017 and was the closest in design since the 2001 version. Not only was the \u201cRoyal\u201d hue more aligned with the original, the Swoosh shape was thinner as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although not an original Air Jordan 11 colorway, the Air Jordan 11 \u201cDMP\u201d will receive the Reimagined treatment in 2023 and will be renamed as \u201cGratitude\u201d colorway. Additionally, the shoe\u2019s signature ballistic mesh upper will be substituted for a tumbled leather upper instead. Its gold details, milky white outsole, and signature patent leather will remain the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Air Jordan 11 is a legend in its own right. Its patent leather, translucent outsole, ballistic mesh, and its tuxedo-inspired look elevated the Air Jordan line due to Tinker\u2019s forward-thinking design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Air Jordan 11 made its debut during the 1995 playoffs as the Chicago Bulls faced Orlando Magic and its dynamic duo of Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O\u2019Neal. Though the Bulls were bested by the Magic, all eyes were on Jordan. The early prototype of what would become the Air Jordan 11 stole the show during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Both the \u201cConcord\u201d and \u201cSpace Jam\u201d colorways would make their on-court debut during the series and teed up one of the most iconic seasons as the 1995-1996 Bulls went onto a 72-10 season and secured their fourth NBA championship during the Michael Jordan era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to its design and the Bulls\u2019 historic season, the shoe became etched in basketball and sneaker history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2000, the Air Jordan 11 would retro for the first time and its release marked a new era in sneaker culture as campouts would soon become the norm \u2013 especially with the \u201cSpace Jam\u201d colorway releasing for the first time. As the years went by and sneaker culture grew, the Air Jordan 11 became a holiday tradition that resulted in one of the most coveted releases of the year. Unfortunately, its hype, demand, and lack of supply resulted in violence throughout the country and implicitly started the shift to online releases due to the chaotic release of the 2011 Air Jordan 11 \u201cConcord\u201d<\/a> colorway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But before the unprecedented hype of the Air Jordan, Jordan Brand released the Air Jordan 6 and the Air Jordan 11 in 2006 as a part of a two-shoe combination called the Defining Moments Pack. Retailing for $296, the shoes commemorated Michael Jordan\u2019s first championship shoes from each respective three-peat\u2013the AJ6 in 1991 and the AJ11 in 1996. The shoe added gold onto the \u201cConcord\u201d-inspired Air Jordan 11 \u201cDMP\u201d with the 23 heel branding and Jumpman logo on the collar, giving the AJ11 a new level of luxury as the OG patent leather was accentuated with the metallic gold details. The pair also came with a golden dog tag that was etched with the details of the importance of the AJ11 as it was his first championship after his first retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First seen in 1989, the \u201cBred\u201d Air Jordan 4 will receive the Reimagined treatment and will feature a leather upper instead of the shoe\u2019s signature nubuck. With \u201cNike Air\u201d heel branding, the AJ4 \u201cBred\u201d will make its return in new form for the first time since 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tinker Hatfield\u2019s second creation for Michael Jordan was the Air Jordan 4. With a more prominent heel tab that carried over \u201cNike Air\u201d branding like the AJ3, the fourth signature shoe also included panel netting for breathability, wings for lockdown stability, and came in either a leather or nubuck upper depending on the colorway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Referred interchangeably as \u201cBred\u201d or \u201cBlack Cement,\u201d the Air Jordan 4 made its debut in 1989 and is remembered best for \u201cthe Shot\u201d as Michael Jordan and the Bulls eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers with a buzzer beater in the 1989 NBA Playoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the Air Jordan 4 \u201cBred\u201d has been revisited the least despite being a memorable OG colorway. The colorway made its retro debut in 2012. The shape of the silhouette wasn\u2019t as sleek as the original and also featured the Jumpman logo on the heel. Nonetheless, the shoe\u2019s disappearance for 23 years mattered more than OG design specs for consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2019, Jordan Brand celebrated the 30th anniversary of the silhouette and delivered the closest shape and design of the OG with the Air Jordan 4 \u201cBred\u201d that included \u201cNike Air\u201d heel branding. Its slimmer shape, especially on the toe box, was great for enthusiasts. And while the shoe did sell out, it wasn\u2019t until the last few years were the price of the \u201cBred\u201d 4s shot up with the shoe spiking at nearly $600<\/a> in late 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAir Jordan 1 High OG \u201cPatent Bred\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Release Date: December 30, 2021<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-og-patent-bred-750x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow We Got Here:<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/michael-jordan-1985-dunk-contest-750x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-1994-bred-750x750.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-dmp-pack.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-banned-2011.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAir Jordan 1 High OG \u201cChicago\u201d Reimagined AKA \u201cLost and Found<\/a>\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Release Date: November 19, 2022<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-og-chicago-reimagined-lost-and-found-750x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2022\/10\/Air-Jordan-1-Retro-High-OG-Lost-Found-DZ5485-612-09-750x750.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow We Got Here:<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-chicago-1985-750x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-chicago-1984-906x750.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-chicago-2013.jpg.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-chicago-2015.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAir Jordan 3 OG \u201cWhite Cement\u201d Reimagined<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Release Date: March 11, 2023<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/airjordan-3-white-cement-reimagined-750x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow We Got Here:<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/michael-jordan-air-jordan-3-white-cement-750x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-3-white-cement-1988.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-3-white-cement-2003.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-3-free-throw-line-dunk-contest-923096-101-2-1069x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAir Jordan 1 High OG \u201cRoyal\u201d Reimagined<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Release Date: November 4, 2023<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-og-royal-reimagined-dz5485-042-12.14.57-PM-750x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow We Got Here:<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/jordan-royal-1.jpeg-500x750.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/michael-jordan-air-jordan-1-high-royal-1985-1000x750.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-royal-2001-750x750.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-1-high-og-royal-2017.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAir Jordan 11 \u201cDMP\u201d \/ \u201cGratitude\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Release Date: December 9, 2023<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-11-dmp-gratitude-ct8012-170-1-750x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow We Got Here:<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-11-concord.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-11-concord-og.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/Air-Jordan-11-Retro-Concord-2011-Product_V2.jpg-1050x750.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Air](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/01\/air-jordan-11-dmp-2023-1-750x750.jpg\")
Air Jordan 4 \u201cBred\u201d Reimagined<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Release Date: February 17, 2024<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
![\"Air](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/06\/air-jordan-4-bred-reimagined-fv5029-006.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow We Got Here:<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/michael-jordan-the-shot1989-947x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.snkrsday.com\/files\/2023\/10\/air-jordan-4-bred-2012.jpeg-1200x675.jpeg\")
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