The Union x Air Jordan Collaboration Tier List

From the moment Union decided to show the world their inaugural collaboration with Jordan Brand via a prank video at the Pasadena Swap Meet, the sneaker world had changed. Baffling longtime sneakerheads and casual observers alike, the video featured some familiar faces to the culture along with innocent bystanders who had no idea what they were witnessing. Also, selling them for $80 in hindsight was wild work when you consider the heights they would reach in the years to follow.

Despite Union’s longtime presence in the culture that included working with Nike on previous collaborations, their work with Jordan Brand placed them in a different stratosphere. Since their 2018 collaboration on the Air Jordan 1, Union has consistently dropped new sneakers almost every year since, including a few triple threat team-ups with co-founder Beth Gibbs’ beauty supply store.

The results have consistently brought a ton of attention to the Union brand, but there is also the flip side to all of the praise they have gotten as some pairs have been met with less than stellar reaction from the community. While it’s easy to say the newer fusion models are always the ones that get the negative chatter, that’s not always the case.

Tier ranking the Jordan and Union collaborations allows us to get away from trying to justify putting one iconic sneaker over another. Instead, we can group them into their rightfully deserved spots as high-level works of sneaker art and ones that maybe should have spent more time in the Frankenstein lab that Union’s Chris Gibbs and company have been working on.

And what perfect time to do this than on the heels of Union's upcoming triple collab on the Air Jordan 1 High with fragment design? The duo have three colorways launching: Chicago Royal, Sport Royal, and White Black. Check below for our tier list of the Union Jordan collabs, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app for updates on release info for the latest sneakers.

D-Tier

Union x Jordan Zoom 92 Guava Ice (2020)

A mind-boggling fusion of the Air Jordan 7, Nike Air 180, and the Nike Air Force 5 with a modern implementation of Zoom Air, the Jordan Zoom 92 falls in line with Jordan Brand’s annual attempts to mine their catalogs to recapture the magic of classic silhouettes of the ‘90s. The results, as evidenced by the lack of energy around the Zoom 92 since its 2020 debut, are mixed to say the least. Not even attaching the release to the Air Jordan 4 collaboration could save the Zoom 92 from being nothing more than the answer to the trivia question, “what was the other Guava Ice sneaker in Union’s Jordan collaboration in 2020?”

Union x Air Jordan 1 KO Low Pack (2023)

The novelty of seeing the often-neglected Air Jordan 1 KO as a low-cut for the first time is overshadowed by Union’s decision to make the sneaker malleable to the point where the sneaker that’s meant for any occasion actually ends up being a sneaker for nobody. Whether it’s in leather or canvas, the plain upper with removable Swooshes does little to make the sneaker stand out in any meaningful way. The end result of the collaboration is a proof of concept that would be fulfilled by future releases that use iconic Jordan 1 colorways to better results.

C-Tier

Women’s Bephies Beauty Supply x Air Jordan 1 Elevate Summer of ‘96 (2023)

The story of how Chris Gibbs and Union co-founder Beth Birkett Gibbs met can be told through their 2023 Air Jordan 1 collaboration dubbed the Summer of ‘96. Their chance meeting on a subway platform in Brooklyn, New York would soon develop into a relationship that took place amidst the backdrop of a burgeoning streetwear scene and community at the time. While a first glance at the sneaker’s woven pattern that wraps around the upper would make you think that it was inspired by the iconic Nike Air Footscape, it’s actually a callback to Beth’s upbringing through her grandparents.

Union x Air Jordan 2 Grey Fog (2022)

Cracking the code that is making the Air Jordan 2 an equal to the Air Jordans 1, 3, and 4 is a mystery wrapped in an enigma hidden in a quagmire. In other words, despite hitting 35 years in 2022, no one at Nike, Jordan, or the many creatives they tapped throughout its history has been able to elevate the silhouette*. Union’s attempt from that same year was to mix up the materials and add perforated elements to panels that hide pops of color inside. While the sample-like nature of the sneaker, made obvious by the tag that’s stitched onto the collar, gives it a fresh look, the Jordan 2’s base design is always going to leave some people cold to the idea that they are on the level of other early Jordan models.

*Juan’s hot take: The secret to the Air Jordan 2 has and always be twofold: focus on Jordan 2 Lows and accept that the Jordan 2/3 with the visible air bag unlocks the potential of the silhouette in ways that haven’t been exploited yet.

Union x Air Jordan 2 Rattan (2022)

The Rattan colorway of Union’s Air Jordan 2 collaboration was exclusive to the store and had lower production numbers. The use of yellow, cream, and off-white colors gave the sneaker a more vintage feel that fit in better with today’s taste and sensibilities. Despite the slightly more limited run, both the Rattan and Grey Fog colorways failed to capture an audience and currently sell for way below retail price.

Women’s Bephies Beauty Supply x Air Jordan 7 Seafoam (2022)

Anybody who’s familiar with the history of the Air Jordan 7 knows that its minimalist ethos was inspired by the Nike Air Huarache, both of which were designed by the legend Tinker Hatfield. For her collaboration on the Air Jordan 7, Beth Gibbs went the maximalist route and left no doubt as to what sneaker the 7 was inspired by. Featuring a breathable mesh inner bootie with drawstring lacing, a Huarache-esque TPU heel piece, and a die-cut collar that is barely there, it’s a fusion of the Air Jordan 7, Air Huarache, and ACG Air Mowabb that nobody could have anticipated yet feels so obvious in retrospect. The Seafoam colorway was originally an exclusive that could only be purchased by those who bought the Tan pair that will show up later in this ranking before getting a drop at Bephie’s website.

B-Tier

Union x Jordan Delta Mid Off-Noir (2020)

While you won’t find it in any official literature at the time, it would not shock us if Jordan Brand’s non-signature and non-fusion output during the late 2010s and early 2020s took a lot of inspiration from Virgil Abloh’s Nike collaborations and his focus on utilitarian design. The Jordan Delta’s industrial, deconstructed look that featured mixed materials and Nike React foam cushioning was a highlight from that era. Along with the Jordan Zoom 92, the Delta got the chance to rub shoulders with greatness as they were part of Union's Air Jordan 4 collaboration in 2020. While the sneaker community labeled them as the consolation prize if they were unable to purchase the 4s, the Delta’s standout design at the very least made them a more appealing choice than the Zoom 92

Union x Air Jordan 4 Desert Moss (2021)

An Air Jordan 4 colorway unlike any we’ve ever seen before, Union deserves a ton of credit for being able to pitch something as daring as a purple and teal Jordan 4 that’s meshed with a greenish brown suede upper. The appropriately named Desert Moss colorway is an acquired taste that not everybody is going to love, but those who do love it will defend it as a top-tier Air Jordan 4 with or without the Union connection. Putting them in the B-Tier gives us a chance to highlight the split in opinions.

Union x Air Jordan 4 Taupe Haze (2021)

The concept behind the Taupe Haze and Desert Moss Union Air Jordan 4s was to present them as hiking shoes that would not feel natural on the basketball court or on the streets. Taupe Haze mixes grey and brown to the desired effect of turning the Air Jordan 4 that, at the very least, looks the part of a trail sneaker that’s ready to take on the great outdoors. While both pairs of this 2021 collaboration dubbed Tent and Trail land fall just short of reaching the A-Tier, the Taupe Haze earns a slight edge for being a little more versatile and easier to wear.

Bephies Beauty Supply x Air Jordan 1 High Summer of ‘96 (2023)

Despite releasing alongside an Air Jordan 1 Elevate that features many of the same design elements like the woven pattern that wraps around the sneaker and the call backs to both Union and Bephies Beauty Supply, the Air Jordan 1 High is the pair that “elevates” to the higher tier because it doesn’t have an exaggerated outsole that transforms the Elevate into a platform sneaker. With pairs currently available below retail prices at resale platforms, there is always the possibility that this becomes a case of a sneaker that becomes more appreciated as time passes and the boldness to turn the Jordan 1 into a proto-Footscape gets more recognition.

Women’s Bephies Beauty Supply x Air Jordan 7 Tan (2022)

Despite not being the Union exclusive pair, the Tan colorway of Bephies’ Air Jordan 7 stands above the Seafoam for simply being an easier and more versatile pair to wear. According to Beth Gibbs, the Tan colorway is based on her favorite colors and Caribbean roots. When official images for the sneaker showed the mesh bootie in expanded form, that more than likely made people do a double-take and pass on the release. If there had been more of a focus on what they look like with the bootie tucked in, they would see that it looks more like the Air Jordan 7 with earthy tones.

fragment design x Union x Air Jordan 1 White Black (2026)

Using the same color blocking that’s found on fragment design’s Air Jordan 1 collaboration with Travis Scott from 2021, the 2026 edition swaps out the blue for black and includes Union's signature touches like the Frankestein-esque stitching on the collar, oversized Wings logo, and their branded tag as well. fragment’s familiar lightning bolt logo can be found on its usual spot on the heel, and the technical jargon that is a staple of Hiroshi Fujiwara’s work is placed on the midsole. Keeping this out of the A-Tier was not an easy decision, but without the defining feature of Union’s Air Jordan 1 collaborations - the mash-up of two iconic Air Jordan 1 colorways connected at the collar - it feels like an attempt to reset the concept to the basics.

A-Tier

Union x Air Jordan 4 Guava (2020)

Everything about the Guava Ice feels like it should not work. The color palette of Guava Ice and unique shades of blue and red that are uncommon on Air Jordans gives the sneaker an almost bootleg feel that you might find in stores that sell Jordans of questionable quality and authenticity. And the mixed response to the sneaker when it was first revealed proves the theory correct and may have been the plan all along by Union. Making them the Union exclusive pair also adds to their mythical quality as a sneaker that you had to prove that you wanted not because it was hyped but because you are down to 4s that look out of the norm.

Union x Air Jordan 1 Chicago Shadow (2025)

The only knock that prevents the Chicago Shadow from earning an S-Rank is timing. If this colorway had dropped alongside the Storm Blue and Black Toe in 2018, there would be debates raging on to this day about which pair was the best of them all. Holding off until 2025 when Jordan 1s and the Frankenstein concept were no longer special may have proven to be a mistake on the business side. But as a sneakerhead who just wants the shoes regardless of when they release, being able to pick them on release day or for just slightly above retail months later was a massive victory.

fragment design x Union x Air Jordan 1 Sport Royal (2026)

The decision to pair up the iconic Royal Air Jordan 1 with the collar of an unknown colorway is something that should be studied for generations to come. There are a number of iconic Jordan 1 colorways that could have been used to that would have stirred up a more positive response, but they would not fit the daring nature of these collaborations that have featured one pair that is absolutely a slam dunk hit and another that stirs a little more conversation over how cool they actually are. While the white and black pair certainly fits the bill of divisive, blandness will ultimately dull any heated discussion. Not teaming up the Royal with a UNC or one of the Metallics is something we might not appreciate until years from now.

S-Tier

Union x Air Jordan 4 Off-Noir (2020)

If it wasn’t for the way the Air Jordan 4’s tongue hit the shin of Chris Gibbs as a kid, we might not have gotten this collaboration’s most eye-catching feature. The stitched foldable tongue was the result of Gibbs having to do the same when he was younger to make the sneaker wearable for himself. The result is an Air Jordan 4 that gives the illusion of a lower cut. That is until you get the tongue and fold them out to reveal a more traditional, if slightly altered and frayed look. Beyond that, the full plastic lace wings, the blues and reds that are slightly off from more familiar hues like Sport Royal, Military Blue, Varsity Red, or even Infrared raised our standards and expectations for Jordan 4s moving forward. Do collabs like Nigel Sylvester’s Air Jordan 4 Brick By Brick happen without Union paving the way for the Jordan 4 to try new color schemes and to accept changes to the sneaker’s look and feel?

Union x Air Jordan 1 Storm Blue (2018)

Never forget the reaction of sneakerheads who passed by Union’s boot at the Pasadena Swap Meet and thought to themselves that these Jordan 1s were fake. Both pairs of the brand’s OG project were on display, and one by one, people had doubts that they could be real despite the best efforts by Union’s undercover crew trying to sell them for $80 with a straight face. While you can chalk up some of the internet-famous faces who pop up in that video as favors to Union, those who were not in on the gag were on the ground floor of something special. And to be fair to those who passed on these at the swap meet, who could have foreseen a collaboration that combines two Jordan 1 colorways that are literally stitched together in what appears to be a haphazard manner and gives them vintage stylings like yellowed tooling and alternate laces? It’s somehow both a little too absurd and a little too good to be true. The novelty and surprise factor made them instantly a must-have as soon as they were officially unveiled. And as soon as Storm Blue became available on the Union website - a few minutes after their scheduled drop to throw off bots and resellers - they were must-haves and commanding wild prices in the resale market.

Union x Air Jordan 1 Black Toe (2018)

While the Storm Blue has fans who claim their favorite to be the best, the Black Toe was always destined to be a standout for its versatility. Combining the Neutral Grey and Black Toe colorways of the Air Jordan 1, the contrast between the two pairs was stark, and not just because of the blue stitching that was used to hold them together. The Black Toe is an instantly recognizable colorway, but the Neutral Grey is a bit of a deep cut. Whether that was the plan or not, interest for the Neutral Grey grew after its appearance in this collaboration. Not surprisingly, a retro version of the Neutral Grey dropped within a few years.

fragment design x Union x Air Jordan 1 Chicago Royal (2026)

Just when you thought it could not get more hyped than bringing together fragment design, Travis Scott, and Jordan Brand, here comes Union with a hot tag to Cactus Jack to form a super team that might be even more formidable. 2014’s Air Jordan 1 collaboration with fragment design was, in a way, the precursor to Union’s eventual work with Jordan Brand, as it combined elements between the Royal and Black Toe colorways to create a clean look that looked right at home with the other OGs. Union’s work with the Air Jordan 1 was a little more overt with its influences, as the vintage aesthetic and Frankenstein-like implementation of contrast stitching made you pay attention. Between the three colorways that are set to release this year, the Chicago Royal is the standout for how it merges the 2014 fragment collab with the “leftover” collars of the Chicago Shadows that were not used from last year’s Union project.

Juan Martinez

From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. After recently getting into Formula 1, he now has hot takes about who the greatest driver of all time is. Email: juan@soleretriever.com