Daily Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Michael Jordan’s Precise Air Jordan 1 Recreation Has Emerged in Another Colorway — but Will It Actually Release?

The "Chicago" Air Jordan 1 gets the same treatment as this year's "Bred" release.
Air Jordan 1 High 85 Chicago Sample
Jordan Brand is giving out pairs of an Air Jordan 1 "Chicago" similar to this year's "Bred" release.
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images; Courtesy of Julian V.L. Gaines

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Footwear News may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Jordan Brand faithfully recreated the specifications of the original Air Jordan to a degree never before seen for February’s Air Jordan 1 “Bred” release. Now, another of the original colorways has emerged with the same meticulous execution — but it may be even more difficult to get your hands on.

The Air Jordan 1 High ’85 “Chicago” has been revealed by Julian V.L. Gaines, the artist known as Ju Working on Projects. Having worked with Jordan Brand previously, Gaines appears to have been gifted a pair of the highly covetable sneakers.

Rumors first emerged last year for the return of the Air Jordan 1 “Chicago,” but those were quickly dismissed. Complex also reported a source from Jordan Brand as saying the sneakers given to Gaines were a promotional pair and won’t release to the public.

Watch on FN

“Chicago” is one of the two colorways of the Air Jordan 1 that Michael Jordan favored on the NBA court, the other being the “Black Toe” edition that just joined the “Reimagined” series in February by featuring the branding from a previously unreleased sample.

Despite the myth around the “Bred” Air Jordan 1 being banned by the NBA, which Jordan Brand still uses for promotions to this day, Jordan never actually wore the shoe during an NBA game. Instead, it was the Nike Air Ship in a similar black and red colorway that drew the ire of the league for failing to conform with uniform regulations. The only official capacity in which Jordan ever wore the “Chicago 1s” as a player was in the 1985 NBA Dunk Contest.

Chase B, the hip-hop producer and DJ known best for his work with Travis Scott, previously revealed an Air Jordan 1 “Royal” with the same treatment, but that pair is unlikely to release either.

Top Air Jordan Styles You Can Shop Today

Air Jordan 1 High 85 Chicago Sample Similar to Bred Release Surfaces
Nike Air Jordan 3 Retro “Lucky Shorts” Shoes
Air Jordan 1 High 85 Chicago Sample Similar to Bred Release Surfaces
Nike Air Jordan 1 Mid SE Shoes
Air Jordan 1 High 85 Chicago Sample Similar to Bred Release Surfaces
Nike Air Jordan 4 RM Shoes
Shopping with FN
Daily Headlines

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Air Jordan 1 High 85 Chicago Sample Similar to Bred Release Surfaces
Get the Latest Issue
Only $24.99 for one year!
PMC Logo
Footwear News is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2025 Fairchild Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved. FN and Footwear News are registered trademarks of Fairchild Publishing, LLC.