The Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG 'Dark Marina Blue' Builds on an Iconic Colorway
A 2022 update on a 1985 classic.
Before cementing his place in basketball history, Michael Jordan signed an endorsement deal with Nike in 1984, agreeing to exclusively wear the Swoosh’s designs. Won over by Peter Moore’s willingness to adapt to his requests, the Air Jordan 1s were created and sneaker culture as we know it today was born.
MJ Debuts the Air Jordan 1
The revolutionary design first made its NBA appearance in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 17, 1984, capturing the world’s attention by controversially diverging from the league’s regulations. The policy at the time stipulated that players “must wear shoes that not only matched their uniforms but matched the shoes worn by their teammates.” Additionally, footwear had to be 51% white and MJ’s first pair made liberal use of black and red, pushing the pair outside the acceptable boundaries of the NBA’s uniform rules.
The groundbreaking silhouette hit retailers the next year, arriving in a number of now-iconic colorways, including the infamous 'Banned' iteration, 'Bred' and 'Royal Blue.' And while the former two complemented the Bulls uniform to a tee, the latter ultimately became MJ’s favorite color combination, so much so that he laced up a pair for a campaign shot by famed sports photographer Chuck Kuhn. Captured staring into the distance on a remote Oregon airstrip at sunset, Mike’s image was immortalized as a fan-favorite, later becoming a memorable poster dubbed “Flight Guy.”
'Royal Blue' Returns—With a Subtle Twist
True to its original shape, the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG 'Dark Marina Blue' builds off 'Royal Blue,' following a similar palette with updated color placements. Like the 1985 colorway, the silhouette features an all-leather upper and pairs a black base with overlays along the forefoot, heel, collar and eyestay. In place of Royal Blue, however, Dark Marina Blue steps in to provide these hits of contrasting color.
The tongue comes equipped with Nike Air branding, while both the medial and lateral sides of the shoe arrive with matching blue Swooshes. The instantly recognizable Jordan Wings logo is stamped in black on the lateral collar flap. An Air-sole unit is built in underfoot, lending a lightweight feel to the sturdy rubber outsole.
Michael Jordan’s Favorite AJ1 Colorway Changes Course
Dark Marina Blue's strong resemblance to Royal Blue follows a formula that’s not unusual in the brand’s history: altering the colorway slightly while the rest remains virtually unchanged. As a beloved classic, 'Royal Blue' has returned multiple times since its mid-’80s debut, and now, decades since it altered sneakers forever, the colorway receives the most minor of changes, furthering the legacy of both the silhouette and color palette.
Releasing February 16, 2022, the AJ1 Retro High OG 'Dark Marina Blue' continues Jumpman’s tendency to retell iconic moments for a new generation. This time around, Jordan Brand updates MJ’s personal-favorite AJ1 colorway, spinning off from the history books to weave a related but decidedly new tale.
The AJ1 Retro High OG 'Dark Marina Blue' is available on the app and GOAT.com