Updated April 25th, 2024: The Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 “Bred” is expected to release on February 14th, 2025 — the Friday of All-Star Weekend 2025. As of this writing, the quantities, sizing, and MSRP has yet to be revealed, although early expectations figure these to be Adult exclusives for $200.

The below article was originally published on April 16th, 2024.

The Air Jordan 1, once the most coveted sneaker in production for nearly a five year stretch, is now stuck in a lull due to cooling demand and overabundance of product. The explanation behind the AJ1’s downturn is pretty simple: the desire is going down and the supply is going up, an unfortunate and paralyzing conundrum that many Retro products are currently mired in. Could the return of the most iconic Air Jordan 1 change the tune?

This latest news, disclosed by @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files, reveals that Jordan Brand intends to bring back the iconic Black/Red aka “Bred” Air Jordan 1 in 2025. The signature colorway will appear on the Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85, currently the Jumpman’s most true-to-the-original offering of the original Air Jordan shoe.

Undeniably an iconic, timeless Air Jordan 1, the “Bred” combination isn’t exactly scarce. It appeared on the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG in satin (in 2023) and patent leather (late 2022) form, neither of which have had any form of lasting relevance in the eyes the Jumpman fanbase. However, given the original, leather construction expected with the ’85 Hi silhouette, these will be hotly coveted.

As of the publishing of this article, a release date has yet to be disclosed. However, in considering the Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 releases over the years, these could very much release during the 2025 All-Star Weekend, which is expected to take place in the San Francisco Bay Area. A first, actual look at the Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 “Bred” has yet to be revealed, but pictured below is an original pair of the Air Jordan 1 from 1985.

Air Jordan 1 (1985 Original) Sotheby’s

Air Jordan 1 (1985 Original) Sotheby’s

Air Jordan 1 (1985 Original) Sotheby’s

Air Jordan 1 (1985 Original) Sotheby’s

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A BRIEF HISTORY LESSON

The Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 is a premium Retro model of the iconic Air Jordan 1. To date, it is the most accurate re-creation of the original version from 1985. Upon its debut, the MSRP was revealed to be $200, which at the time was $30 higher than the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG. The more common Retro High OG version was wildly popular at the time as the Air Jordan 1 was considered to most-wanted shoe on the market. The anticipation for the ’85 model grew as it boasted that true-to-the-OG shape and materials which Jordan fanatics were absolutely ecstatic about; a quick side-by-side shot below reveals the immediate differences between the two.

The Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 debuted at market in February 2020 in the “Varsity Red” colorway that flipped iconic “Bred” (Black/Red) colorway. A Red/White version was also revealed as part of the “New Beginnings” Pack, which came packaged with a Nike Air Ship. The New Beginnings Pack was priced at $350 and was intended to tell the story of Michael Jordan’s “beginnings” in the NBA. In an unexpected move, Jordan Brand seeded pairs to known sneaker collectors that specialized in original 1985 pairs.

Below is an overview of all of the Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 releases since 2020. Only six have seen the light of day; its general scarcity in the market reflects the significance this model has to the Jordan Brand. All of the shoes below have an MSRP of $200. From the “Neutral Grey” to present day, all of the colorways are originals from 1985. Beginning in late 2023, Jordan Brand released the first Low version of the ’85.

In March 2024, Jordan Brand unveiled a super-premium “Wings” collection that featured the Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 in luxurious Made In Italy craftsmanship. All black with gum soles, this version featured black animal hairs on Italian leather with heavy satin lining. To date, the Wings collection was available exclusively in China.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Although the Air Jordan 1 in general has cooled off considerably in regards to demand, such is NOT the case with this particular release. In fact, this release is already deemed one of the most significant of 2025 as it will most certainly generate interest in a fading category; Jordan Brand also needs to leverage the attention around this shoe to improve its overall marketing outreach to the younger demographic.

The Air Jordan 1 “Lost And Found”, for example, commands more than double the $180 MSRP in the secondary market. The Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 “Bred” is projected to be met with the same demand, and given the decreased production numbers of the ’85 model, the aftermarket pricing is likely to be considerably higher than the expected $200 MSRP.

The last time the Air Jordan 1 “Bred” hit the market was back in 2016, and pairs are currently valued at $700-900 in the aftermarket. This figure should give you more of a general indication that the Air Jordan 1 Hi ’85 “Bred” will be one of the most coveted sneakers of 2025.