Mache Created the Air Jordan 1 ’85 ‘Bred’ Cleats for Jalen Hurts for Super Bowl 2025
Dan “Mache” Gamache has designed custom shoes for high-profile athletes for a long time. However, creating cleats for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for Super Bowl 2025 might be his biggest sports moment to date.
Jordan Brand confirmed with FN that Mache designed the “Unbannable” Air Jordan 1 Retro High ’85 “Bred” cleats that Hurts wore before the start of Super Bowl 2025.
“It’s big for me, given how many guys in the league I’ve been fortunate enough to work with during the regular season. But when it comes to the Super Bowl, you’re given the opportunity to have your work be seen in the biggest stage possible,” Mache told FN. “Jordan Brand came to me with two minutes left in the fourth quarter to help them continue this ‘You Can’t Ban Greatness’ campaign with one of the most popular football players on their roster and I was beyond ready. Just gives me one more opportunity to prove I belong here.”
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Mache told FN that Jordan Brand chief design officer Jason Mayden contacted him roughly two weeks ago for a “quick turnaround custom” that carried the “Unbannable” story through the Super Bowl. “The main challenge was trying to figure out how to make these different for the big moment since they’ve released ‘Bred’ Jordan 1 cleats in the past,” Mache explained.
Breaking down the cleat’s design, Mache said he opted for a glossy “Banned” bar over the Swoosh branding for contrast “you could see from afar.” These black rectangles are reminiscent of Nike’s “Banned” Air Jordan 1 marketing that dates back to 1985. Also, Mache stated Jordan Brand came up with the “Unbannable” graphic for the heels, and that he added “You Can’t Ban Greatness” to the sockliners.
Mache has customized sneakers for more than 20 years, and his client list includes The Rock, Jay-Z, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Curry, LeBron James and countless others. In July 2020, Mache revealed the first-ever shoe of his own design, the Mache Runner. And in June 2023, he revealed his second shoe, the Mache Runner v2.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
