The Air Jordan 1 was first released by Nike in 1985.
Designed by Peter Moore for basketball player Michael Jordan, the shoe introduced the Jordan signature line and became one of the most influential sneakers in popular culture. Its original high-top design, bold color blocking, and visible Nike branding helped it move beyond basketball courts.
The Air Jordan 1 is often described as the beginning of the Jordan Brand story, although Jordan Brand became a separate Nike subsidiary much later, in 1997. The shoe’s early marketing also helped create the idea that sneakers could be collected, styled, and traded as cultural products.
A common mix-up is confusing the Air Jordan 1’s 1985 launch with the year Michael Jordan entered the NBA, which was 1984. Later Jordan models followed in sequence, but the first model remains the best-known foundation of the line.