Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG 'Hyper Royal'
This April 17th release features a new colorway on a classic silhouette.
Before Michael Jordan was a GOAT—boasting six rings, five MVPs, multiple scoring titles and Rookie of the Year—he was a skinny kid in a Bulls jersey wearing a new signature shoe clad in Chicago team colors. The year was 1985 and no one had any idea the Air Jordan 1 would reshape the sneaker landscape with an eclectic blend of colors and materials that would make a statement on and off the court.
Designed by Peter Moore, the Air Jordan 1 featured clean lines and a new branding element that set it apart from every other Nike shoe at the time: the Wings logo.
The Swoosh, designed by Carolyn Davidson in 1971, had already established itself as a versatile logo, seen on everything from apparel and shoes to merchandise and advertising.
The Wings logo evoked flight, blending an homage to pilot’s wings with a basketball graphic, tied together with ‘AIR JORDAN’ in bold lettering. In game after game, his Airness would soar above the hardwood in the Wings-branded Air Jordan 1, averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals in 82 games played during his rookie season. The reputation for MJ’s first signature model was set.
The initial Air Jordan 1 colorways, too, broke new ground, telling stories through basic color blocking. The ‘Bred,’ ‘Black Toe’ and ‘Chicago’ took cues from Bulls team uniforms, while the ‘UNC’ paid homage to Jordan’s college days. Other popular colors included the ‘Royal’, ‘Shadow’ and ‘Natural,’ as well as a number of metallic shades.
Following MJ’s retirement, the Air Jordan 1 would see its first retro release in 1994, coming back in the ‘Bred’ and ‘Chicago’ colorways. The AJ1 resurfaced in 2001, with more original colors returning, alongside new colorways launched exclusively in Japan. From there, a bold experimentation with materials and colors began, with the AJ1 arriving in patent leather, nylon, suede and other luxe materials.
Releasing April 17, 2021, the Jordan 1 ‘Hyper Royal’ adds to the storied legacy of AJ1 iterations. Featuring a white leather base, the overlays are crafted with suede in a ‘Hyper Royal’ hue accented by ‘Light Smoke Grey’ on the collar, outsole and Swoosh. Although an entirely new AJ1 colorway, the ‘Hyper Royal’ is grounded in Jordan heritage with the Wings logo emblazoned on the side profile, and the same simple design lines that have stood the test of time.
Air Jordan 1 High Retro ‘Hyper Royal’ FAQs
Are there any new ‘Hyper Royal’ releases?'
'Hyper Royal’ has been used as a colorway on other releases across Air Jordan and Nike silhouettes. Recent and upcoming releases in a similar color include the: