AJKO 1 Low – Black/Varsity Red-Sail
When Nike launched the first signature model for their newly-signed star Michael Jordan, they knew it was going to be a hit – it had to be. Undoubtedly the one thing every kid in America was going to want was a pair of sneakers just like Mike, the only problem was that not every family could afford the $65 entry point. To allow more kids a chance at wearing a pair of Jordans, they created the AJKO as a more price conscious model
The AJKO was priced at almost 1/3 of the price that the flagship model would run you – a pretty good deal in any parent’s eyes. To keep the costs down Nike did two main things, they removed the leather and Air.
Instead of full grain leather uppers the AJKO was made entirely of canvas, with bound edges across the panels which added a particularly refined finish to this price-conscious variant. Unfortunately Nike famed Air cushioning was still too expensive in ’85, resulting in the AJKO borrowing an outsole from the mid-cut Vandal – no slouch on the court – in order to simplify things.
Decades removed from its cut-price history, the AJKO garnered fame as an often overlooked and sometimes hidden part of the Jordan legacy. In 2023, the shoe likely has more fans now than ever. You won’t be disappointed to see these when you open the box.
