Which sneaker was the first model in Nike’s Air Jordan signature line?

The Air Jordan 1 was the first model in Nike’s Air Jordan signature line.

Nike released the Air Jordan 1 in 1985 after signing Chicago Bulls rookie Michael Jordan the previous year. Peter Moore designed the shoe, giving it a high-top basketball shape, a winged-ball logo, and color blocking that became central to the Jordan brand’s visual identity.

The model is closely linked to the story of Jordan’s black-and-red shoes being rejected by NBA uniform rules. That story is often told as though the fined shoe was always an Air Jordan 1; historically, the best-known early fine involved the Nike Air Ship. Nike nonetheless used the controversy to promote the Jordan line.

The Air Jordan 1 later became a major lifestyle and collecting shoe. High, Mid, and Low versions, along with collaborations and retro releases, have expanded its reach far beyond basketball. Its original 1985 launch established the template for athlete-led sneaker franchises.