What Sets the Air Jordan 1 Mid Purple Apart?
The Air Jordan 1 Mid Purple sneakers are special editions with two models available.
Two Jordan 1 Mid Purple sneakers currently available are the SE Court Purple and SE Purple Velvet.
The Court Purple was released on November 19, 2020, and the Purple Velvet came out on October 2, 2022. You can find these sneakers as well as other Jordan 1 Mid SE sneakers on eBay.
What's the Story Behind the Jordan 1 Mid Product Line?
When Michael Jordan provided feedback to designer Tinker Hatfield that the Jordan 1 and 2 were too tall, Hatfield designed a lower silhouette for the 3. The 1985 Jordan 1 player sample that Michael wore was actually a lower cut as well.
Sneaker collecting became popular in Japan during the 1990s, and the Mid sneakers became very popular in the Japanese market. Nike released the Japan Pack and Patent Pack of Jordan 1 Mid shoes to cater to this market. The shoes also started growing in popularity in other countries. Nike has been consistently releasing new Jordan 1 Mid designs ever since. There was significant growth in 2018–2020 in the European and US market, especially among women's models.
SE Court Purple
The Court Purple model is also sometimes called Varsity Purple.
Colorway
This Jordan 1 Mid SE Purple has a gray upper with white, black, and purple overlays. Purple was also used for the outsoles and Wings branding on the collar. A small dash of pink appears in the Air branding on the tongue. Purple Jumpman logos sit atop the tongues, while black tongues and shoelaces complete the colorway.
Materials
The Varsity Purple Jordan 1 Mid features a leather base with a mix of suede and leather overlays. This combination of different colors and textures creates a dynamic, eye-catching design. The purple and black overlays are suede and the white is leather. Perforations on the toe box add some ventilation.
Cushioning
As with most Jordan 1 Mid designs, this model is fitted with Air technology. The cushioning setup feels like the Jordan 1 High, providing court feedback.
Traction
These Jordan sneakers have the same traction pattern as the Jordan 1 High. Concentric circles paired with deep flex grooves grip the court while maintaining flexibility.
SE Purple Velvet
You may see this colorway referred to as Purple Smoke. It's also a women's exclusive.
Colorway
The upper, overlays, and tongue are purple. White midsoles briefly break up the one-tone design with purple continuing at the outsoles.
Materials
Made of velvet, these Jordan 1 Mid SE Purple sneakers easily stand out from others in the product line. Only the tongue isn't made of velvet. The shoelaces are silky and ribbon-like to complement the soft design. In another key difference, the Swoosh is embroidered rather than stitched as a side panel. The Wings logo is also hollowed out.
Cushioning
Air midsoles were used for cushioning, just as with other Air Jordan 1 sneakers.
Traction
The outsoles weren't changed in the Purple Velvet, either. They still have concentric circles and deep flex grooves like other Jordan 1 sneakers.