UPDATE: The Air Jordan 1 Low UNC releases this Saturday, March 29th via SNKRS. The UNC Lows were pushed back because of quality control issues found on the sneakers’ toe box
One of the cornerstones of the pandemic sneaker boom is returning in a low-top form.
Long before the shoe was a fan favorite on TikTok, though, the Obsidian colorway was used sparingly by Jordan Brand.
In 1997, Air Jordan would release the first sneaker to ever receive the “Obsidian” nickname. It was on the Air Jordan 12, which debuted the year prior. Though Jordan never wore the Obsidian 12s on the court, the colorway, reminiscent of Jordan’s UNC alma mater, became a beloved colorway by Jordan heads. The Obsidian 12 has released a few times since 1997, including once releasing as a low-top. Despite having many popular colorways, the Obsidian Air Jordan 12 still stood out on it’s own accord- thanks to those differing shades of blue.
Blue Air Jordans didn’t cease to exist after 1997, but the “Obsidian” nickname was used sparingly.
In the late 2010s the demand for Air Jordan 1 Highs was bubbling. With exciting OG retro releases of the Bred 1, Royal 1, and the Shadow 1- and a Travis Scott collaboration looming, the Air Jordan 1 High was bound to be an unstoppable force. By the time the the Air Jordan 1 High Obsidian released in August of 2019, the unstoppable force had arrived. The fact that the Obsidian High wasn’t an OG colorway didn’t matter, it flew off shelves and quickly became a coveted sneaker. With good reason, too. The Obsidian colorway suited the Air Jordan 1 High well, and the addition of sail on the upper gave the shoe a more vintage and classic look.
Eight months after the release of the Air Jordan 1 High Obsidian, the world shut down due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. As the world stayed inside- collectors took to the internet to bolster their collections. Thus, the pandemic sneaker boom arrived.
Suddenly, sneakers were the hottest commodity. Those aforementioned releases became among the most coveted sneakers on the secondary market. The Air Jordan 1 was the hottest sneaker, and everyone wanted to get their hands on a pair. This included the Obsidian Highs- which were fetching close to 600 dollars in the secondary market. As things go in collectable hobbies, the prices eventually leveled out, but the Obsidian Air Jordan 1 High was the encapsulation of an important moment in sneaker history.
As we know, trends change in the sneaker world. The Air Jordan 1, though, is a mainstay. The Air Jordan 1 Low is enjoying a moment this year. There are several great Air Jordan 1 Lows expected in 2025, and the Air Jordan 1 Low Obsidian is around the top of that list.
The 2025 Air Jordan 1 Low Obsidian appears identical to it’s high-top counterpart from 2019. The pair features similar sail full-grain leather that is balanced out by a clean mix of Obsidian and University Blue overlays. Unlike the High, though, the low-top will feature the iconic wings logo along the back of the heel, rather than the ankle. Also unlike the Highs, the Lows will feature sail secondary laces- further giving a nod to the ever trendy but tasteful sail color.
The Air Jordan 1 Low UNC releases this Saturday, March 29th via SNKRS.
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