Explore the Fascinating Variety of Purple and Black Jordans
Jordans in black and purple are less common, but this colorway is used for some very unique shoe styles.
The distinctive combination of bright purple and bold black is one of the least common Nike colorways. Though purple and black Jordans are very unusual, they have an interesting place in sneaker history. Most Jordans in black and purple are iconic designs that are very popular among sneakerheads. Explore our guide to discover the history of purple and black Jordans and learn more about notable Air Jordan designs available on eBay.
When Did Jordan Start Creating Black and Purple Sneakers?
The first Jordan colorways were primarily shades of red, black, blue, and white. Purple only joined the roster in the 1990s. The very first purple and black Jordans appeared on the Air Jordan 5s designed by Tinker Hatfield. These shoes were the 1990 Grape Air Jordan 5 OG shoes. They featured a white upper with a purple tongue and midsole, black lining and heel, and teal accents.
Nike chose to add purple and black Jordans to their lineup as a way of celebrating a new trend in sports. Purple was an increasingly popular color among athletes in the late 80s and early 90s. Many NBA teams, including the Charlotte Hornets and LA Lakers, started prominently featuring purple on their gear. Nike wanted to pay homage to these teams, especially since the Hornets were Michael Jordan's hometown team. Therefore, they decided to create a design with purple and black accents.
The original purple and black Jordans were a huge step away from the traditional red and white colors used for other Jordans. This made them really stand out from other Air Jordans, and they turned out to be wildly successful. The Grape 5s were worn by Will Smith on-screen, and they were featured in many prominent Michael Jordan ads.
Purple and Black Colorways Frequently Show Up in Unique Jordan Designs
Because purple is such an uncommon color for Jordans, Nike frequently uses it to make a shoe stand out. Collaborations with artists, fashion designers, television shows, and movies frequently highlight the intriguing combination of black and purple Jordans.
2019 Travis Scott Purple Suede Jordan 4 Retro
These exclusive Jordans were only available as a friends-and-family release. Designed by rapper Travis Scott, these Jordans showed up at a variety of red-carpet events and concerts. They use soft, purple suede for the upper and black netting in the mesh cutouts. Black and gray appear on the shoe's lacing supports and midsole accents.
2013 Night Vision Joker Jordan 1
To celebrate the ongoing Batman franchise, Nike released these special Joker-inspired shoes. The shoes use a traditional Jordan 1 silhouette in the Batman villain's green and purple color palette. They feature a black upper with dark purple patches and a light purple midsole. This dark palette is brightened up with pops of neon green on the logos, laces, and outsole.
2013 Bel-Air Jordan 5
The Bel-Air purple and black Jordans have a 90s-inspired palette that pays homage to Will Smith's character on his iconic television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They use the Jordan 5 silhouette that Smith frequently wore on-screen. The upper is a soft gray with a black tongue, and the midsole is dark purple. Small accents of neon yellow, green, and blue appear on the outsole and lining of the shoe.
Jordan Updates Old Classics With New Purple and Black Colorways
When Jordan first began releasing black and purple colorways, these hues were mostly just used for the occasional, limited-edition design. However, starting in 2012, Nike started purposefully adding a lot more purple and black colorways to their lineup. The company used these colors to put a fresh spin on its retro shoe silhouettes. Here are some of the retro designs now available in purple and black.
2020 Air Jordan 3 Court Purple
These shoes use the 2018 Air Jordan 3 design with its mid-top height and flat sides. Just like the original, they skip the Swoosh on the sidewall and instead feature a Jumpman on the heel and tongue. Most of the shoe's upper is solid black with a gray elephant print on the heel and toe. Purple accents appear along the plastic midsole, ankle lining, lacing eyelets, and logos.
2018 Air Jordan 1 Retro Mid Dark Concord
These purple and black Jordans are a remake of the classic 1985 silhouette. They use a mid-top shape that hits just at the bottom of the ankle. The shoes feature a blend of purple tumbled leather and fuzzy black nubuck leather on the upper. Most of the shoe is black, with purple accents on the toe, heel counter, and Nike Swoosh. To complete the design, Nike uses a bright white midsole and a purple rubber outsole.
2020 Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Court Purple 2.0
This colorway is so popular that it was released in both 2018 and 2020. The shoe's design uses the iconic Jordan 1 shoe that features a perforated toe, Nike Swoosh, and Wings logo. Its color blocking is similar to the classic Chicago colorway, but it uses purple instead of red. This shoe has a white leather upper with purple around the heel, ankle, and toe. Black appears on the laces, ankle support, and logos.
2019 Air Jordan 13 Retro Lakers
The retro Lakers shoes were released in 2019 as a series to celebrate Michael Jordan's rival team. The shoes have the sleek silhouette and embroidered texture of traditional Jordan 13s. From the top, these shoes appear to be black, white, and purple. They have a white upper with a purple midsole, purple accents, and a black outsole. If you look at the sole, you will find hints of bright yellow that pay homage to the Lakers' gold color palette.
Exciting Black and Purple Jordans to Look Forward to in the Future
Nike's released a lot of purple and black Jordans lately, and it looks like they're going to continue the trend. Their recent and upcoming shoe launches include several Jordans black and purple colorways. Here are a few upcoming or recent shoe releases that are generating a lot of buzz
2022 Air Jordan 4 Retro Women's Canyon Purple
A women's version of the vastly popular Canyon Purple Jordan 4s was released in October of 2022. These black and purple Jordans come in women's sizes and have a slightly slimmer silhouette. However, they contain the same purple, black, green, and orange colorway that's been so trendy among fashionistas lately. These shoes have a purple suede upper with green and black speckled lace reinforcements. Black appears on the midsole, heel counter, lace wings, and tongue tab. A bright orange Jumpman logo completes the unusual color palette.
2023 Air Jordan 12 Retro Field Purple
These Jordan 12s are slated to be released in the summer of 2023. They have the streamlined Jordan 12 shape with its quilted leather upper. The Field Purple colorway is a very simple, bold blend of solid black and purple. Black leather appears on the tongue, sides, and heel of the shoe. The soles and sides of these shoes use a deep purple color. This purple shade also appears on the Jumpman logo.
2023 Air Jordan 1 High OG Skyline
This spring 2023 release provides an unusual, pastel take on the black and purple colorway. These shoes use a Jordan 1 design with a high-top silhouette. The base of the shoe is white leather, but the heel and toe patches are in a pink and purple gradient. Jordan balances this softer color scheme with crisp black on the ankle collar, Nike Swoosh, laces, and outsole.