Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan 5 Sneaker Will Be Released in a New ‘35th Anniversary’ Style
Update: Feb. 3, 2024 at 11:45 a.m. ET:
Jordan Brand’s 40th anniversary celebration is already well underway after a new “Unbannable” commercial debuted during the 2025 Grammys. While the initial focus is centered around February’s upcoming launch of the black-and-red Air Jordan 1 “Banned” sneaker, the anniversary marketing is expected to continue throughout ’25 and will include the return of several of the most significant sneakers in the brand’s history. One model in particular, the Air Jordan 5, will receive a heavy push including both classic original colorways and new looks. Lending to the latter category is a brand new colorway of the sneaker which is fashioned in the style of some of its most iconic looks.
Newly shared information from @zsneakerheadz and Sneaker Files describes a “35th Anniversary” Air Jordan 5 Retro slated to release later this year. While in-hand images aren’t yet available, a mock-up render of what the new sneaker is expected to look like was shared. The pair will resemble the original “White/Black/Fire Red” style of the sneaker but is expected to swap the original Fire Red shade with a new Medium Soft Pink look. The specific backstory has not been announced, but it’s possible the pair is intended to appear as an aged and faded version of the original colorway.
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In addition to the update coloring, the “35th Anniversary” Air Jordan 5 Retro is expected to come with all of the original sneaker’s bells and whistles including Nike Air stitching on the heel and perhaps most crucially, Jordan’s personalized number 23 stitched near the lateral heel — a throwback detail which has eluded many recent Air Jordan 5 releases.
It doesn’t appear that the Air Jordan 5 Retro “35th Anniversary” will be a particularly limited-edition pair as there are reportedly plans for the sneaker to release in full-family sizing. A retail price of $210 is expected for the “White/Medium Soft Pink/Black” colorway, which has a SKU of HQ7978-102. The pair is expected to be released from SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers on Oct. 11.
What We Originally Reported on Dec. 11, 2024
Pink is returning to the Air Jordan 5 next year.
According to leakers @sneakerheadz and Sneaker Files, a new “Medium Soft Pink” Air Jordan 5 Retro is on the way for holiday ’25. In-hand images aren’t yet available, but a speculative mock-up image depicts the shoe in its classic white-based color blocking with pink and black filling in the accents, including the flame motif on the midsole and the shoe’s translucent outsole.
The “White/Medium Soft Pink/Black” colorway is expected to be released in men’s sizing, and not a women’s or grade school exclusive like many of the pink-accented Air Jordan 5s that have launched over the years.
Some of the more notable examples of pink appearing on the Air Jordan 5 include 2022’s “Girls That Hoop” Low and “WNBA” grade school exclusive, 2020’s “Pink Foam” grade school exclusive and 2017’s “Black/Deadly Pink” grade school exclusive. Further back, the color was memorably used on 2006’s “Stealth” Air Jordan 5 women’s exclusive.
Also in ’25, pink is expected to be featured as the main color on one of two Air Jordan 5 collaborations with Awake New York.
The Air Jordan 5, first released in 1990, was created by renowned footwear designer Tinker Hatfield. Four colorways were issued during its debut run including “Black/Metallic” “Grape” and two variations of “Fire Red” styles. All but one of those pairs are also reportedly set to be rereleased in ’25, which marks the 35th anniversary of the iconic sneaker.
The “Medium Soft Pink” Air Jordan 5 Retro has a full colorway of “White/Medium Soft Pink/Black” and a SKU of HQ7978-102. An exact release date and price point have not been determined, but the pair is expected to hit retail during the holiday season.
