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Sneakerheads and the general public have lost interest in the Air Jordan 1 silhouette in the last year or so, a major swing from the AJ1's red-hot run in the early parts of the 2020s, which was kicked started by the ESPN docu-series The Last Dance. Jordan Brand knew that for the 40th anniversary of the Air Jordan 1 in 2025, they’d have to change their approach and bring out the big guns. This rang true with the Air Jordan 1 High 85 Bred, the most accurate recreation of the Air Jordan 1’s original 1985 shape on the most iconic colorway of the sneaker. Following up on this is another ‘85 cut of the AJ1, this time in the Shadow 2.0 colorway.
Earlier in the year, Hiroshi Fujiwara was spotted wearing the colorway in an Instagram post. At at the time, there was no confirmation that the pair was going to see a retail release, as Jordan Brand has made multiple promo samples for friends and family — including an Air Jordan 1 High 85 Royal and Chicago. However, these official images loading confirm that the sneaker will be released to the public. As for the pair itself, it’s based on an original unreleased sample of the Air Jordan 1 High from 1985, which Jordan Brand did release in 2021 on the standard Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG variant.
Unlike the version from 2021, which features an outdated shape that changed with the release of the Lost & Found AJ1, the ‘85 version replicates the Air Jordan 1’s cut and construction from 1985. We see a reshaped toebox, enlarged Swoosh, and a different cut to the tongue and collar portions when compared to more modern releases of the silhouette. Its color scheme differs from the standard Shadow AJ1, an original colorway of the AJ1, as it adds grey hues to the eyelets and toebox.
The Air Jordan 1 High 85 Shadow 2.0 will be released exclusively in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, by Various Artists. The pop-up will run from July 31 to August 2. Check here for more info on the pop-up release. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at $200. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Air Jordan 1 High 85 Shadow 2.0
Images via Nike
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com
