Air Jordan 1 "Sports Illustrated" Holiday 2018

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Jordan Brand is reaching back to the infancy of Michael Jordan‘s professional career to drive new iterations of his very first signature shoe — the Air Jordan 1. Later this year, in ode to his Rookie of the Year acknowledgment, a shoe carrying that moniker will hit stores. Its inspiration is taken not only from the trophy he hoisted that year but a buttery brown shirt he wore during the award presentation.

On pace with that release in another that also draws from Jordan’s crowning rookie season. Sparked by a moment in advance of his Rookie of the Year honors, this release finds momentum in a vintage Sports Illustrated cover.

The issue, labeled “A Star is Born,” released on December 10, 1984. It saw Jordan positioned between three Milwaukee Bucks defenders at the rim with an intense focus in his eyes. Each of the three Bucks players were facing Jordan but angled sideways towards the advantageous photographer, who caught the gradient green and white fade of their red-trimmed uniforms. From that moment, and those poses, Jordan Brand found the fuel to drive the forthcoming Air Jordan 1 “Sports Illustrated” edition.

From an outward vantage, the shoe is of very little grandiosity. Crafted in premium tumbled leather, the style features a white base with black overlays — standard issue by most accounts. It’s the iconic Swoosh branding that informs the shoe and supports its narrative. That same gradient pattern from those elder Bucks unis is seen through a striped green and white Swoosh, trimmed in red. A matching red Wings logo punctuates this penetrating theme.

Jordan Brand has not officially announced the shoe nor its release date. However, several reports indicate that the Air Jordan 1 “Sports Illustrated” will debut sometime during the brand’s coveted holiday release calendar.

Update8/6: A closer look at the upcoming Air Jordan 1 “Sports Illustrated” courtesy of sayitwityakickz is revealed. A holiday 2018 release is expected.

Update 10/4: Official imagery of the Air Jordan 1 “A Star is Born” is revealed. Earlier dubbed the “Sports Illustrated” 1s as the shoe odes to one of Jordan’s first magazine covers, the shoe will release later this holiday season.

Update 12/3: The Air Jordan 1 “A Star is Born” is scheduled to help close the calendar year for Jordan Brand with a December 27 release date. A closer look below has been provided by Fineline1721.