Blue the Great Jordan 1s Bring Artistic Flair to Classic Sneaker Silhouettes
Blue the Great's collaboration with Air Jordan ended up creating some very bold, unusual Jordans.
For decades, Air Jordan has been collaborating with artists who bring fresh designs to classic Jordan shoes.
One collaboration with LA-based artist, Blue the Great, has resulted in a unique pair of Jordans. These colorful basketball sneakers mimic Blue the Great's body of paintings while staying true to the traditional Jordan 1 design.
Discover How Blue the Great Ended up Designing a Pair of Jordans
Blue the Great started getting involved in the fashion world in an interesting way. Due to his work with Kendrick Lamar, Blue's artwork was already popular in some streetwear communities where he had been doing collaborations. However, he started getting attention after he began customizing shoes on commission. Some of his earliest commissions were custom Jordan Air Forces sneakers. Blue also added his artwork to shoes worn by NBA players, such as Javale McGee, so his work started showing up on the courts.
Nike took notice of Blue's talents and asked him to do an official collaboration with their team. This would give multiple fans the ability to get Jordans with Blue the Great's artwork. These shoes were marketed as a limited release in November 2019.
Blue the Great Upgrades Classic Jordan 1s With Premium Design
The base sneaker model for Blue the Great Jordans is a revamped version of the Jordan 1 Mids. This special edition version of the shoe keeps the same classic silhouette. It has a flat sole, slim sides, and a small collar around the ankle. Just like many Jordans, they feature a rubber sole with a built-in Air unit. The big change to these shoes is the materials used to create the upper. Instead of smooth leather, most of the shoe is created from textured suede leather. To add additional texture, Blue also included striped corduroy patches on the sides and a fuzzy chenille for the Swoosh.
The shoes have a color-blocked upper that references Blue the Great's signature pop-art style. They have a yellow toe, green lace supports, a blue ankle, and a red heel. These vibrant colors are also present in the Blue the Great logo that wraps around the back of the heel. The artist chose to combine his own aesthetic with the logos that are a part of signature Jordan styles. The shoes use classic black for the traditional Swoosh and Wings logos. The tongue has a white patch that displays the Jumpman logo instead of the usual Nike Air logo. Meanwhile, the side and the sole use the pale, cream color known as Sail. The interior of the shoe contains an extra surprise for fans with a colorful graphic image designed by Blue the Great.