Cemented in the history books as (arguably) the most significant series of sneakers, the Air Jordan lineup played a significant role in developing sneaker culture and is directly linked to the current-day fervor around footwear in general. Those who grew up watching MJ dominate the NBA always dreamed of “being like Mike,” and his sneakers were the closest way to feel like you, too, were a superstar. Many of the iconic colorways on the original 14 models he graced the hardwood with are connected to specific moments in his career, such as his two three-peat championship runs, the iconic Flu Game, and his incredible free throw line dunk in the 1988 NBA Dunk Contest.
Retro releases of these colorways didn’t hit retail shelves until late in his NBA career, and ever since, collectors have been looking for the next OG colorway to add to their rotation. Jordan Brand typically releases colorways like the Bred AJ 1 every half decade or so, with some taking nearly ten years before seeing another retro. Jordan Brand has recently switched things up by giving sneakerheads some of the OG colorways with slight variations in materials and aesthetics via the Reimagined Sneaker series.
What Is The Air Jordan Reimagined Series?
Jordan Brand introduced the Reimagined series to appease the new generation of sneakerheads looking to secure a piece of history and allow OG collectors to differentiate these new releases from their older pairs. This sneaker series takes classic colorways and adds a unique twist to their build.
What Does Reimagined Mean?
When thinking of Air Jordan retros, your first thought is an (almost) exact 1:1 recreation of original colorways from MJ's playing days. While that has been the case for virtually all previous retro releases, Jordan's Reimagined series differs. Jordan Brand's Reimagined initiative aims to get OG colorways as close to proper form but with a twist. For example, 2021's Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Patent Bred that kicked off the Reimagined Series took the classic Bred colorway and replaced its smooth leather construction with patent leather. The next time, Jordan Brand utilized an aged aesthetic for the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Lost & Found and the Air Jordan 3 Retro OG White Cement.
Every Air Jordan Reimagined Sneaker
The Jordan Reimagined Series started in 2021 with the AJ 1 High OG Patent Bred. Since then, Jordan has released a reimagined Jordan 3, 4, and 11, and now an Air Jordan 5 is on the way with the release of the AJ 5 Reimagined Black Metallic set to release in 2025. Find every Jordan Reimagined sneaker in order of release date below:
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Patent Bred - 2021
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Lost & Found - 2022
Air Jordan 3 Retro Reimagined White Cement - 2023
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Reimagined Royal - 2023
Air Jordan 11 Retro Gratitude - 2023
Air Jordan 4 Retro Reimagined Bred - 2024
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Black Toe Reimagined - 2024
Air Jordan 5 Retro OG Black Metallic Reimagined - 2025
Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG UNC Lost & Found - 2025
What Jordan Models Have Been Reimagined
Jordan's Reimagined series has expanded to include five models since 2021. Up to this point, Jordan Brand has Reimagined the following Air Jordans:
- Air Jordan 1
- Air Jordan 3
- Air Jordan 4
- Air Jordan 5
- Air Jordan 11
The Future Of The Air Jordan Reimagined Series
Based on the Reimagined Jordan shoes released so far, Jordan Brand will continue to take OG colorways across different Air Jordan models and bring them back with unique twists. It's also possible that these releases will feature a return to OG shapes as the mold for the Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 3, and Air Jordan 4 have been updated with each release. Jordan Brand's Reimagined series brings new life into Air Jordan retros and creates excitement amongst sneaker collectors everywhere.
Right now, it's too early to tell precisely what will be released next as Jordan Brand is constantly switching things up for their release calendar when looking far ahead into the future. However, we'll be sure to keep you posted on our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app when we can confirm the next Reimagined Air Jordan.
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Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
